CS Phyllis Kandie creates team to revive Kenyan tourism

Cabinet Secretary for East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism, Phyllis Kandie. [PHOTO: MBUGUA KIBERA/STANDARD]

NAIROBI, KENYA: A taskforce has been formed to advise the Government on how to rejuvenate the tourism sector, currently on a downward trend.

This comes in the wake of terror attacks, mainly in the coastal counties of Mombasa, Lamu and Kilifi, which are some of Kenya’s most popular tourist destinations. The insecurity has led to a slump in tourist arrivals following travel advisories by a host of countries, including the key markets in the US and UK.

The taskforce was formed by the Cabinet Secretary for East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism, Phyllis Kandie.

In Gazette Notice No. 4611 released on Friday, Kandie named Lucy Karume as chairperson of the team. Ibrahim Mohammed, Principle Secretary in the Department of Commerce and Tourism, is the vice-chairperson.

Other members include Equity Bank chief operating officer Julius Kipng’etich and Nairobi-based lawyers Cecil Miller and Donald Kipkorir. The committee’s duties include identification of challenges affecting the tourism sector and coming up with an immediate strategy to overcome those challenges. The team is also expected to develop a strategy to position Kenya as a preferred beach, commercial, sports, educational, health and business conferencing destination.

Other functions include working to re-position tourism as a major contributor to the gross domestic product, and coming up with an action plan to mitigate future challenges.

As it comes up with solutions, the taskforce is expected to consult participants from the sector. The team’s report is expected to be finalised in three months.