•The 20th edition of Lamu Cultural festivals held over the weekend has been hailed as one of the most successful cultural events in the recent past.
•It attracted over 30, 000 visitors including foreign tourists majorly from Europe and the US.
Image: ALPHONCE GARI
Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) has termed events as one of the major catalysts for the growth of regional tourism in the country.
It has called on players in the sector to leverage the existing opportunities to drive growth in the sector, as the country builds on post-Covid recovery.
Speaking at the sidelines of this year’s Lamu Cultural Festivals, KTB acting chief executive John Chirchir said the learning from the successful cultural event provides insights that other regions can replicate.
“This is the opportunity for other counties to look at what they have that, if developed, can pull visitors to their respective regions,” he said.
The 20th edition of Lamu Cultural festivals held over the weekend has been hailed as one of the most successful cultural events in the recent past.
It attracted over 30, 000 visitors including foreign tourists majorly from Europe and the US.
Chirchir termed improved infrastructure as a major facilitator of tourism development in the region, hailing the government for prioritising the projects.
“The development in infrastructure within Lamu including the expansion of Manda Airport, and completion of road within the LAPSSET corridor will spur investment opportunities in the tourism sector,” he pointed out.
Lamu Tourism Association chairperson Khalib Ahmed said the cultural event has had a direct positive knock-on effect across the value chain, down to the common person.
“This is a big impact on the Lamu economy positively affecting all tiers of economic livelihoods and as an association, we are ready to share our success with other counties," Ahmed said.
Businesses in Lamu have for decades depended on tourism activities with the coming up of the Lamu Port being seen as an opportunity for cruise tourism, amind other logistics opportunities.
A UNESCO World Heritage site, hospitality facilities within Lamu Island recorded a brisk business with hotels, restaurants reporting impressive margins during the festivals.
Majlis Resort, one of the leading facilities in Lamu, for instance, was fully booked.
“I had to ask people to extend their booking arrangement to other dates because of the festival,” general manager Nilmah Shah said.
Meanwhile, Lamu plans to at least six festivals lined up from January, governor Issa Timamy has said.
Among them are the food festival, fishing festival, Yoga festival, Arts festival, and Maulid festival, to keep the island active and retain its status as a heritage site.
“The outstanding culture and traditional way of life, the architecture of our buildings in the old town is the highlight of our unique culture. We are playing the role of custodians to this heritage that we strive to ensure it remains on the UNESCO heritage list,” Timamy said.
Lamu Old Town has a unique heritage with more than 700 years of continuous settlement.
Its rich heritage and traditions have earned the Island a place on the coveted UNESCO World Heritage List.
It is currently benefiting from the UNESCO Covid-19 crisis response programme , aimed at supporting tourism recovery around World Heritage Sites.
The festival is usually marked by traditional dances, displays of handicrafts and unique competitions on water and land, Swahili poetry, donkey races, dhow races, henna painting, and musical performances.