- He spoke in Malindi during a public participation, which brought together stakeholders from Kilifi county
- Among the key issues that emerged are, expansion of the Malindi International Airport, infrastructure development
Image: ALPHONCE GARI
The Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife has announced plans to buy beach cleaning trucks and vehicles for tourist police to attract more tourists.
Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua said the monies in the Tourism Fund will be used to invest in the sector.
He spoke in Malindi during a public participation, which brought together stakeholders from Kilifi county.
The meeting is aimed at coming up with tourism recovery strategies
Among the key issues that emerged are, expansion of the Malindi International Airport, infrastructure development, security improvement, cleaning of beaches and lighting system.
The issues will be factored in a report next week to kick-start the process of allocation of funds.
Mutua said in the government's masterplan to promote tourism, it will build a second port in Takaungu in Kilifi county to attract cruise ships.
“I will go and Visit that Takaungu and see how far it is from here because we can get ship to dock there. We also have plans for this airport, which I don't want to talk about now," he said.
Mutua said the ministry will map new tourism circuits in all the 47 counties for marketing.
He said the ministry will conduct a more aggressive strategy targeting Africa's huge potential.
The CS said there is need to come up with a strategy to develop Mqamburui dunes to attract tourists who sppend a lot of money travelling to Dubai.
Philemon Mwavalla, an investor from Malindi, said it is time an international airport was built in Malindi.
“Its important for us at have another airport to help us plan for the future,” said Mwavala.
Effue Opiyo from the Progress Welfare Association of Malindi raised environmental concern saying it was affecting the industry.
“The problem is how our wastes are not properly managed and how we do not have a proper structure for that,” he said.
Justin Kitsaio urged Mutua to ensure toilets built on the beaches.
He also opposed the Uyombo nuclear project plans in Kilifi.
“Organise your tourism conferences and other meetings in Watamu, Malindi or in Kilifi to promote us,” Kitsaio said.
Kilifi Tourism executive Clara Chonga supported stakeholders request for a second port in Malindi for cruise ship to dock.
“As we wait for the bigger ships, we need yatches to come and transfer tourists to different islands and tourism areas,” she said.
Chonga said the county launched the Kenya Riviera Kilifi to market the county.
She said the project is aimed at identifying Kilifi as a unique destination.
Currently, she said they are mapping out new tourism circuits to promote the county further.
Kene Kiplagat from Gedeng Camp within the Sabaki estuary said they were happy that the tourism fund was in the process of funding projects to help revive the tourism sector.
On Sabaki estuary, he said, they are happy that the government is willing to invest in by putting up small structures to promote tourism to the world as community are set to benefit
“We are happy that the CS has c0ome with his policy that we know him a Chap Chap man and we are happy that he can come up with a Chap Chap solution to all these problems that we have,” he said.
Image: ALPHONCE GARI