Preparations are in top gear for this year’s annual United Nations-World Tourism Day Celebrations to be held on Wednesday, September 27, in Embu County.
The county has outlined a series of events preceding the day’s celebrations to be held at Moi Stadium in Embu Town and presided by Cabinet Secretary (CS) Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage Peninah Malonza.
The Ministry has chosen the county to host the national celebrations to accord it the opportunity to showcase its tourism products including scenic sites, wildlife, adventure, agro-tourism, sports tourism, culture and arts.
Governor Cecily Mbarire, speaking on Wednesday from her office when she met the organizing committee, said to kick off the events, there will be a gold tournament Thursday at Embu Gold Club followed by a tree planting exercise and later in the evening a cocktail party where winners of the tourney will be awarded.
She said on Friday, there would be an excursion of the Mount Kenya South Eastern Route which was an alternative route to Mt. Kenya through Irangi Forest followed by a tour of coffee and tea plantations in support of agri-tourism.
Governor Mbarire said a marathon had been organized in Mwea Game Reserve on Saturday organized by the Department of Tourism to popularize the sanctuary and later in the day guests would be treated to country music.
On Monday, the Governor said, they would hold a clean-up exercise of Embu Town and its environs and tree planting followed by a visit to St. Monica Special School where they would mobilise required support, mainly foodstuffs.
On Tuesday, there will be a stakeholders’ workshop for all players in the tourism sector at the Kenya School of Government, she said.
The Governor said CS Malonza would on the material day visit tea and coffee farms followed by tree planting at Embu University before proceeding to Moi Stadium for the main event.
To crown the day, the Governor said the Department of Sports had organized a football match pitting UN World Tourism Day trophy holders Kilifi County Utalii Football Team and Embu Football Team.
By Samuel Waititu
