KWS embarks on Sh150m project to boost tourism

By JACK NDURI

Homa Bay,Kenya:Programme involves enhanced patrol and a daily beach clean up exercise

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has planned a Sh150 million project at the expansive Lake Victoria basin to spur tourism.

Through the scheme, a six-month pilot program would be carried out that will ensure enhanced patrol, daily beach clean up exercise and reorganisation of beach vendors making beaches friendly to tourists.

With the great potential for tourists in Homa Bay County, the newly elected Governor and his Cabinet should strive to make tourism a major income earner to help spur economic growth and create employment opportunities.

According to the Kenya Tourist Board Managing Director Muriithi Ndegwa, the programme aims at restoring the competitive edge of Kenya’s Coastal area as a tourism destination while ensuring that marine and beach tourism products are sustained. 

Focus on this sector could herald the birth of a new dawn to the Western Tourism Circuit whose potential still remains untapped.

Homa Bay County is strategically placed to receive visitors and therefore the compelling need to invest in the hospitality industry.

Regional tourism from the major East African states of Uganda and Tanzania could easily be strengthened if Lake Transport was developed and proper accommodation established along the Lake’s beaches.

This goes together with a good road network, especially between Mbita and Homa Bay, Mbita-Gwasii-Ndhiwa-Homa Bay, Kendu Bay-Homa Bay some of which have been done or under construction and Kendu Bay-Oyugis and Oyugis-Rodi Kopany roads among others.

Tourism sector - being one of Kenya’s key economic contributors - has over the last two years undergone tremendous revolution and achieved immense growth in terms of income to the exchequer and creation of various opportunities both to tour operators and job seekers.

The sector according to Government reports, contributed Sh74 billion in the year 2010 and turned out to be the main contributor of foreign exchange to the Kenyan economy- at 44 per cent.

Despite travel advisories issued by some countries, the performance of the sector, the Government says, has achieved full growth