Tourism Cabinet secretary Phyllis Kandie has set up a special team to spearhead recovery of the tourism sector whose profits and business volumes continue to drop over insecurity.
The 17-member committee will be chaired by Kenya Tourism Federation’s chairperson Lucy Karume with Principal Secretary for Tourism Ibrahim Mohamed as the vice chair.
It is tasked with identifying challenges affecting the sector, develop a strategy to address the challenges and position Kenya as a preferred tourism destination, develop an integrated communication campaign. The team has also been asked to develop an action plan to mitigate future risks to tourism.
It comprises of private sector tourism players such as Chris Modigell, J.S Vohra of Serena Hotels and Kenya Tourism Board MD Muriithi Ndegwa.
Other members are; lawyers Cecil Miller and Donald Kipkorir, Taita Governor John Mruttu, former KWS director Julius Kipngetich, Adam Jillo, Robert Marini, Philemon Mwavala, William Kiprono, Jostine Barmao, Kenya Airways’ marketing director Chris Diaz, Alice Mwololo and Nicholas Bondo.
Tourism earnings have been dropping since 2011 when the government launched operation Linda Nchi by sending troops into Somalia to pursue al Shabaab fighters who were threatening the industry at Kenya’s Coast by abducting foreign visitors.
In 2012, earnings for the industry dropped to Sh96 billion from Sh97.9 billion in 2011 due to security threats brought on by the al Shabaab menace. Tourist numbers also dropped from 1.78 million in 2011 to 1.23 million as at end 2012.
In 2013, the poor performance continued with earnings dropping to 93.9 billion, a 2.1 per cent decline while visitor numbers plunged by 11.3 per cent to 1.09 million.
Recent attacks in Coastal region of Lamu, a once popular tourist spot, as well as sporadic terror-related attacks in other parts of the country have affected the industry which is suffering a lull despite the current high season.
