Key players in the tourism industry want the Tourism Regulatory Authority functions decentralized to county governments to help oversee the implementation of community-based tourism projects.
In his submission on Friday during a public participation forum on Tourism Policy and Tourism Amendment Bill 2024, Lake Victoria Tourism Association Kenya (LVTA) CEO Charles Kataro stated that the proposal would ensure revenue-sharing mechanisms fairly benefit local communities.
“Establishing County Tourism Development Offices would significantly enhance county-level tourism management to align with the devolved system of government,” Kataro observed.
The Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife conducted a public hearing in Kisumu County on the proposed National Tourism Policy and Tourism (Amendment) Bill, 2024 that aims to modernize, diversify and enhance Kenya’s tourism industry.
Kataro further said that the government should shift focus from marketing popular overcrowded tourist sites like Maasai Mara and the coastal sandy beaches to lesser-known attractions like Lake Turkana, Kakamega Forest and Western region tourism circuit.
“Government should provide special incentives to private investors interested in investing in marine transport in Lake Victoria to enhance regional connectivity between the East African member states which will be a big boost to tourism activities in the region,” he added.
Thomas Ouko from Kisumu County Government proposed the harmonization of the proposed Tourism Policy and Bill with the Kenyan Constitution and the Inter-Governmental Relations Technical Committee (IGRTC) Gazette notice of December 16, 2024 that transferred local tourism functions to county governments.
“The Tourism Bill 2024 and National Tourism Policy should be aligned to the Constitution of Kenya 2010, and the IGRTC Gazette notice dated December 16, 2024 on devolved functions of local tourism,” he stressed.
Ouko, who played a role in the tourism sector as a technical expert in developing devolved functions of the tourism sector under IGRTC and the Council of Governors noted that fully actualising the transfer of local tourism functions to counties is essential for sectors’ operational effectiveness.
“Reviewing the law ensures a smooth transition of responsibilities and prevents jurisdictional conflicts. Counties require clear guidelines on licensing, revenue collection, and regulation of tourism-related businesses, previously handled by the national government,” he stated.
David Kinyangi, Director at the State Department for Tourism, described the opportunity to review the National Tourism Policy and the Tourism (Amendment) Bill, 2024 as a historic milestone in shaping the future of the sector.
“The two documents play a critical role in the growth of the tourism sector by offering a clear roadmap for achieving the planned objectives,” Kinyangi stated.
The event was also attended by Kisumu County Commissioner Benson Leparmorijo and representatives from various tourism organisations within the Nyanza region.
By Robert Ojwang’