Taita Taveta MCAs want the county government to brand all tourism sites in the devolved unit to boost revenue.
The ward reps in a motion said the tourism sector is a leading source of foreign exchange revenue that contributes to the nation’s economy and should be prioritised in the county's development agenda.
Therefore, they said, there is a need for the county government to explore more on the benefits that come with many tourist sites found within Taita Taveta county.
"The county government should explore more on the benefits that come with the vast tourism site found within our region," MCA Isaac Matolo said while moving the motion on Wednesday.
The Mata MCA said the region is bestowed with many tourism sites that if well-branded will contribute immensely to the growth of the county's economy.
They include the expansive twin-Tsavo National Park, wildlife sanctuaries, lodges and Vuria Hills, which is arguably the most preferred hiking and the highest peak in the coastal region.
“I am sure if this county undertakes some serious branding of these God-given sites, we will turn the county to a tourist destination hub not only in Kenya but also in Africa thus attracting more tourists, boosting our own source revenue collection,” he added.
Matolo said the motion seeks to help the devolved unit put in place strategies that will catapult efforts to market the region as a key tourist destination.
The county, he said, is strategically positioned at the coastal belt and neighbouring Tanzania, a region with most frequent tourist visits, thus placing it at a better place to benefit from tourism.
"The county is linked to two main highways and the standard gauge railway making it an ideal destination. This motion will help the county maximise on the tourism potential," Matolo added.
His Kasighau counterpart Amos Makalo said the county has the potential of creating hundreds of jobs from the sector.
"The county is a sleeping giant with a huge potential of turning the tourism sector to a major contributor of own source revenue collection if only branding of the sites is implemented," Makalo said.
He said that all the tourism sites and spots should be branded and fully marketed for the region to reap the benefits of tourism and create jobs for residents.
The county also boasts of the lucrative battlefield tourism owing to the existence of the WWI battlefield sites.
Taita Taveta was a battlefield for the World War I (WWI) East African campaign between the Germans and British troops.
WWI was mainly fought in the region from 1914 to 1918.
The county has one of the best momentous sites in Kenya, running from the precolonial era with rich and untold stories of past generations.
The National Museums of Kenya in 2015 gazetted 15 sites in the county as sites of historical interest and significance.
They include Salaita Hill, Voi Commonwealth War Graves, Indian Commonwealth war graves, Kenyatta Caves in Wundanyi and First Old District Commissioners’ House in Taveta.
Others are The German Fortress, Maktau Picket Hill, Indian military cemetery, Taveta ACK Holy Trinity Church; Mahoo and Mahoo Pastor’s Residence.
