Oldest tourism lobby merges with Kenya Coast Working Group to bolster fortunes

Kenya Coast Tourism Association's (KCTA) Official Julius Ceasor (left) shows the operations of their Tourism online search Machine to the Managing Director Dian Reef Beach Resort and Spa Bobby Kamani (middle) and Chief Executive Officer of Jumuiaya za Pwani Mannuel Nzai (right) at their Mombasa Offices. [Philip Mwakio]

The oldest tourism lobby group, Kenya Coast Tourist Association (KCTA) has now merged with Coast Tourism Working Group as it seeks to bolster tourism arrivals to the Coast.

KCTA  formerly East African Tourism Association (EATA) was 1964 .Form EATA , it later rebranded to be known as Mombasa and Coast Tourist Association (MCTA)  before lately being called KCTA.

Speaking after the official merger, KCTA chief executive officer,Mr Julius Owino said that from now onwards, Coast Tourism Working Group will be domiciled  as a special committee under KCTA.

Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary,Mr Najib Balala formed the task force to spearhead revitalisation of Coast destination under the aegis of the Kenya Coast Tourism Working Group.

Mr Hasnain Noorani, Managing Director of Pride Inn Group of Hotels chaired the Coast Working Group.

''The Kenya Coast is a great tourist destination endowed with great potential from sandy beaches rich culture, diverse wildlife and marine life. Despite all this, it has never realized its tourism full potential. This therefore calls for a deliberate effort by industry players to forge strategic partnerships towards revamping the industry,'' Owino said.

Owino added that implementation of the tourism strategy and achieving intended of objective can only be a success if we build synergy and collaboration among stakeholders.

''The activities and agendas of Kenya Coast Tourism Working Group in the implementation of Tourism strategy in the Coast will therefore be housed and driven under the umbrella of KCTA,'' he stated.

KCTA will therefore be the tourism stakeholders’ voice of authority in the Coast region and will work closely with the Ministry of Tourism in driving the implementation of the tourism strategy under public private partnership. 

Owino added that the partnership will see a holistic approach from destination branding, packaging and marketing hence improving visitor’s experience.  

'' This  event is an indication of  the changing times where the private sector  takes lead in driving the sector unlike in the past where development  and implementation of destination management and marketing strategies was a preserve of the government with the private sector being fence sitters,'' Owino said .

He explained further that the move is an assurance that we are committed to making destination Kenya Coast more competitive.

KCTA chairman,Mr Victor Shitakah lauded the move to strengthen tourism lobby groups adding that collective marketing of the Coast region will help boost tourist arrivals into the region.

''We welcome this merger with both hands and hope it will help in giving more energy to efforts to market Kenyan Coast as an ideal and popular long haul destination of choice,'' Shitakah who is also Regional General Manager for Pride Inn Hotels said.

At the sametime industry players have heaped praise on the government through the Tourism and Wildlife Ministry for working hard to revive the industry.

''We salute efforts by the government and in particular Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary,Mr Najib Balala for remaining committed to reviving tourism ,'' Mr Bobby Kamani, Managing Director of Diani Reef Beach Resort & Spa said.

Kamani who is also a member of the Coast Tourism Working Group said that it is time that Private Sector reenergize the efforts by the CS and his team to help bolster tourism.

' We remain committed to working with the government in driving tourism agenda in the region,'' Kamani said.