Nakuru County government plans to set up its own tourism board responsible for marketing and formulating policies governing the sector in the devolved unit.
Deputy Governor Mr. David Kones indicated that there was a need to “extend beyond working with the national government” and reach out to potential partners in the tourism industry.
“We can’t sit and wait for the Kenya Tourism Board to market for us,” said Kones.
He observed that the County Assembly had approved the Tourist and Marketing Bill which immediate former Governor Mr. Lee Kinyanjui had assented to into law.
“There are aspects of tourism in Nakuru that have not been marketed and these are the ones we are seeking to leverage on to attract more visitors to the tourist town,” he said.
By doing so, Nakuru will be borrowing a leaf from destinations around the world where tourism is marketed locally instead of relying on the national tourism board.
The Deputy Governor was speaking during a graduation ceremony of 140 workers from the hospitality industry that underwent a two-week refresher training programme at Sawela Lounge in Naivasha.
The training that was organized by the Ministry of Tourism and Utalii College’s liaison committee drew participants from Central Rift, North Rift and Mara regions.
According to Kones, once the board is operationalized, it will give priority to some tourist products that have not been well marketed in Nakuru, including the Menengai Crater, Hyrax Hill Museum and Kariandusi prehistoric site.
The Nakuru County Tourist and Marketing Act provides a comprehensive legal framework for the development, management, marketing and regulation of sustainable tourism in the county.
Nakuru has some of the most visited tourist sites in Kenya including Lake Nakuru National Park, Lake Naivasha, Hells Gate Park and Subukia Shrine among other sites.
The Act mandates the board, among others, to develop, implement and coordinate a county tourism and marketing strategy.
According to the statute, the board comprising key stakeholders in the tourism sector, will be headed by a chairperson appointed by the governor. However, the chief executive officer, who will hold office for a term of three years, will be recruited competitively by the County Public Service Board.
The board will market Nakuru at national, regional and international levels as a premier tourism and filming destination.
“The board will identify market needs and advice tourism stakeholders on the market trends,” reads the Act.
The board will also recommend tourism areas that have significance culturally, archaeologically and ecologically sensitive for gazettement.
It will also establish and develop county tourist health facilities besides promoting water sports and big game fishing activities.
Kones stated that the core mandate of the board would be to bring together all key tourism stakeholders to market Nakuru County domestically, regionally and internationally. This will structure tourism affairs better to achieve more in the sector.
The Deputy Governor observed that globalization had increased competition since many services offered in Kenya’s tourism sector were found elsewhere.
“We must exploit potential for devolution,” said Mr Kones.
Tourism is not a devolved sector but some of the functions such as zoning, law enforcement, planning, and partnerships are devolved to the counties.
“We have a rich culture, wildlife, and other magical places. We have more potential,” added Kones.
He was accompanied by County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Trade, Tourism and Cooperatives Mr. Stephen Kuria, Chief Officer for Tourism Rosemary Kimani, Chief Officer for Resource Mobilization Pastor Alex Maina and Director for Youth Mr. Josphat Kimemia.
Nakuru County Tourism Association Chairman Mr. David Mwangi noted that Kenya could triple earnings from tourism by overhauling its marketing strategy where a calendar of cultural and county events forms the specialty menu presented to the world.
He said the nation must stop relying on wildlife and beach-goers to power its billion-shilling tourism sector as this generally benefits the rich and not locals.
“Redefine our strategy to make it homegrown and give it an identity that attracts thousands of domestic tourists. That is the catch for international tourists keen on intermingling with people. Food and our rudimentary rituals can triple our tourism numbers all year round instead of the seasonal “take we have,” he said.
Mwangi observed that devolution had opened Kenya’s hidden treasures with county governments now required to identify two tourism products that will be packaged as national attractions by the Kenya Tourist Board.
By Anne Mwale
