Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua joined by Coast Region Governors have convened a high-stakes meeting to craft and deliberate on innovative strategies meant to catapult the tourism industry into a new era of growth and prosperity.
This collaborative effort underscores a united commitment to harnessing the nation’s cultural and natural treasures, aiming to not only recover from recent setbacks the sector has faced but also set the stage for unprecedented success in the realm of travel and leisure.
Speaking during the ‘Future of Tourism in the Coast Region’ meeting held at the Mombasa Beach Hotel, the CS said that the meeting was focusing on innovative strategies to invigorate and generate employment opportunities for the youth.
He added that together, they had reviewed and embraced viable development and maintenance projects spanning Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, and Lamu.
The meeting was attended by senior officials from the Tourism Ministry, including PS Tourism, John Ololtuaa and PS Wildlife, Silvia Museiya.
Coast Region Governors present were, Mombasa County’s, Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir, Kwale governor Fatuma Achani, Kilifi County boss Gideon Mung’aro and Lamu County’s, Issa Timamy.
The initiatives and strategies discussed encompass a range of impactful endeavors, such as implementing an open skies policy, enhancing visa protocols, establishing a national aquarium, constructing cruise docks, promoting new tourism products, securing national parks, fostering halal tourism, advancing ecotourism, emphasizing sports tourism, improving street lighting, enhancing access roads, upgrading hotels and supporting beach operators’ cooperatives.
“We are also addressing the challenges faced by citizens coexisting with wildlife, particularly the issue of human-wildlife conflict and this involves constructing fences and providing compensation to those adversely affected,” Mutua said.
He added that the Ministry is committed to collaborating and providing financial support for these identified projects, aiming to bring tangible benefits to the local communities by the first quarter of 2024.
“We aim to assess the ranking of our hotels and have a fund in place to support renovations to help elevate our ranking to align with global standards,”
“We will succeed because we have the intention and a plan, we will allocate additional funds to ensure the work is done, and the final steps to this are in order,” Mutua concluded.
Mombasa Governor, Abdulswamad Shariff Nasir reiterated the Open Skies Policy saying that all the strategies being put in place will be in vain if tourists encounter difficulties entering the country, especially along the coast.
By Fatma Said
