Experts: Cultural heritage tourism’s potential yet to be fully tapped

Community organizations being awarded at the Baraza International Conference Center in Kilifi on Friday / BRIAN OTIENO

Mumina Mohammed, Sophia Stephens, Gladys Mjama at the Baraza International Conference Center in Kilifi on Friday / BRIAN OTIENO

EU delegations’ Mathew Brooke at the Baraza International Conference Center in Kilifi on Friday / BRIAN OTIENO

Kilifi county director of tourism Mary Kabane at the Baraza International Conference Center in Kilifi on Friday / BRIAN OTIENO

Sustainable Travel and Tourism Africa founder Judy Kepher-Gona outside the Baraza International Conference Center in Kilifi on Friday / BRIAN OTIENO

The culture and heritage tourism potential has not been tapped at the Coast region, yet it provides an authentic experience for tourists.

Stakeholders blame lack of proper packages that can be sold to actual and potential tourists for the situation.

Sustainable Travel and Tourism Africa founder Judy Kepher-Gona on Friday said Kenya is part of the Western Indian Ocean countries, most of which have built their tourism industry on beach tourism.

However, communities living in these Western Indian Ocean countries have been mapped to be poor despite living adjacent to some of the top world beaches in the world.

“They have been left out of the tourism industry because what they have in terms of culture and heritage has not traditionally been included within the blue economy,” Kepher-Gona said.

She spoke at the Baraza International Conference Center in Kilifi on Friday during the close of the Tourism and Cultural Heritage component, one of and the last pillar of the Sh3 billion Go Blue project, which started in 2021.

The key objective of the component was to develop the culture and heritage tourism within the blue economy.

“In particular we are talking about the blue tourism that is inclusive, that goes beyond the beach and ocean, and looks at other assets and opportunities that are available in the Coastal counties,” Kepher-Gona said.

The TCH in the Go Blue project was aimed to create awareness and visibility of alternative tourism that are part of the blue economy.

Some 650,000 euros (about Sh97 million) was disbursed to 16 small community organizations at the Coast to advance culture and heritage tourism.

The organizations and their products were also integrated in the value chain of the Coastal blue economy tourism.

“Today we have 16 successful community organizations that have developed culture and heritage products. Most have been integrated into the tourism value chain of this area.

“They are being sold through communities, hotels, cruise ship industry and are benefiting from domestic tourism because they have been given visibility,” Kepher-Gona said.

She said the community organizations have been capacitated and now know how to package, price and make visible their products, and link them to traditional tourism products in the Coastal areas.

“They are now receiving revenues of up to Sh3 million,” she said.

Mary Kabane, the Kilifi county director of tourism, said diversification of tourism products has led to more opportunities for Coastal youth who have been able to use culture and heritage not only as a way of life but also an income generating activity.

She said cultural enthusiasts have helped increase the tourism products in the Coastal areas.

“This way, we are also telling the youth to preserve their cultures and not leave it to the old men so that when they go they go with the culture,” Kabane said.

EU delegations’ Mathew Brooke said the Go Blue Investment project which was being implemented in the six counties of the Coast region under the Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani (JKP) has been a success.

Brooke said the project, especially the Tourism, Culture and Heritage component, has made youth in the Coastal counties appreciate culture and heritage not only as a social asset but also an economic one.

“They have been building on this asset in order to turn it into an economic opportunity and employment,” Brooke said.

In the European Union, Brooke said, eight per cent of employment is in the sectors of culture and tourism.

So, he said, there is plenty of margin to build on that.

“There is a tremendous basis already established in Kenya,” he said.

Brooke said he has been particularly impressed by the logic adopted by the community organizations which have turned their own cultures and heritage into economic opportunities rather than depending on support every time.

He said the collaboration between the local governments, the community organizations and the European Union has been impressive and sustainable.

 

INSTANT ANALYSIS:

Kenya’s culture and heritage tourism includes exploring historical sites like Lamu, Old Town and Fort Jesus, visiting indigenous communities like the Maasai, experiencing traditional arts and crafts, attending vibrant festivals like the Tobong’u Lore Lake Turkana Cultural Festival and the Lamu Cultural Festival. These experiences offer visitors an opportunity to engage with the country’s rich traditions, history and diverse ethnic groups.