State censured over failure to support tourism industry

By Macharia Kamau

Players say the stakes are even higher this year, given that its an election year

The Ministry of Tourism should be more proactive in addressing challenges facing the industry that could derail the sector if left unchecked.

Players in the industry say the biggest concerns Include the ministry’s failure to implement the Tourism Act, increased insecurity and rise in instances of wildlife poaching in Kenya.  Poor marketing of Kenya as a tourism destination has also been cited as a challenge that impedes the industry’s growth. Adam Jillo, the chairman of the Kenya Association of Tour Operators — an umbrella body for tour operators — said the stake are even higher for the sector this year, given that its an election year.

Tourism Act

 “With the year 2013 being an election year, concerns are bound to arise given the experiences from the general election of 2007. In addition, ever since the Kenya Defense Forces incursion into Somalia, tourism has been one of the most affected sectors in the country and visitor numbers for 2012 indicate a decline. It is therefore imperative that the Government takes all possible measure to address these concerns,” he said in a statement.

Election jitters and insecurity are already affecting the industry, with arrivals for the ten months to October last year growing marginally, and many tourists shunning some of the destinations in Kenya.

Figures by the Kenya Tourist Board show a two per cent growth in arrivals to Kenya between January and October last year. Arrivals to Mombasa through the Moi International Airport declined 23 per cent. Jillo said the full implementation of the Tourism Act would help in addressing major hurdles that the industry faces. The legislation that was signed into law in 2011 has a raft of measures that expected to improve the running of the industr, including the establishment of an industry regulator.

“The Tourism Act remains largely unimplemented over an year since it was passed into law. The industry continues to grapple with issues that could have been resolved by the Act were it to be fully implemented. It is imperative that the necessary mechanisms be put in place to ensure proper implementation of the measures stipulated in the Act,” said Jillo.

Weak laws

He added that the country needed to deal firmly with rising insecurity that has portrayed the country in a negative light and made it increasingly difficult to market it as a tourism destination. “Dealing firmly with any acts of insecurity will not only ensure safety of citizens, but will also reassure visitors planning to come to Kenya. Of particular concern are the constant acts of insecurity in Tana River and other parts of the country. These incidents paint a very negative picture of the country and it becomes very difficult for the tourism industry to effectively market Kenya as a preferred holiday destination,” said Jillo. The rise in poaching incidences has also wreaked havoc on the industry, with the weak regulatory framework in the country being blamed for the vice.

 “There has been a draft Wildlife Bill pending for years while the sector continues to experience unnecessary problems that could have been resolved by having a proper legal framework,” said Jillo.