Taita Taveta targets SGR travellers in new tourism marketing strategy

Taita Taveta county has started a campaign to market its tourism products, gemstones and baskets to the thousands of travellers plying the Voi SGR station.

This is according to trade, tourism, industrialisation and cooperative development executive Gertrude Shuwe.

Shuwe said the department has set up gemstone and basket shops at the Voi SGR station to explore the untapped market and showcase the region's tourism prowess.

She said the new venture offers an opportunity for entrepreneurs, youth and women groups to sell their products at the station thus creating employment.

“This is a great opportunity that we are banking on to market the county’s products, offer employment and boost our economy,” the executive said on Wednesday.

The trade department, Shuwe said, will further support basket weavers to establish shops at the station and tap on the new market.

She said, "We are ready to enable our county basket weavers to tap this great opportunity. This platform will help them get ready market for their products which is in line with our socioeconomic agenda aimed at transforming people's lives"

While inspecting the gemstone and basket shops at the station, Shuwe said the devolved unit has laid down strategies to market the region as a top tourism destination.

She said the county government will put up billboards on strategic locations across the county showcasing the county’s investment opportunities in tourism and mining sectors.

"We have a big potential as a county. We have agreed to engage partners in marketing through billboards, signages, fliers, among other materials,” Shuwe said.

“We will also write formally to the management of SGR to be allowed to put a signage on the entrance to showcase what the county can offer to the thousands of travellers and tourists using SGR on a daily basis."

The new Voi SGR market comes as a double score for the basket weavers in the county who are also eyeing an international market deal.

The county government is also in another partnership deal with Gitzell Fairtrade International, a US-based organisation that works with women weavers in Africa who produce hand-woven baskets for decor, shopping, and storage.

There are more than 450 established basket weavers in the county, forming at least 23 weaving groups who produce the unique Taita basket.

The Taita Basket Intellectual Property Mark is internationally recognised.

The Taita baskets, commonly known as ‘vidasi’ are hand-woven to meet the international standards, according to Hilda Mbuwa, the county weavers’ association chairperson.

She said the weavers have fine-tuned their finishing skills, value addition and improved quality standards for the international market.

Hilda said there has been an increase in market for their baskets, prompting the need to increase production.