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By ISABELLA MUKUMU
In Summary
- So, what’s the criteria for being registered as a homestay facility? Location and accessibility, quality in terms of facilities and amenities, hygiene and sanitation, safety and security.
- The host has to live in the same unit or environment and at least one family member must be able to speak English. And it’s mandatory that an official from the Ministry of Tourism inspects the facility and gives approval. This is important for those who want to stay in these facilities lest they end up in places which are not secure or up to standard.
When Winfred Gitonga started her homestay services,
it was after various visits from her long-time German fiancé who would
occasionally bring his friends along for safaris.
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She accommodated them for a few weeks at her home in Nairobi
West and after they went back to Germany, they would recommend their
friends to come stay with Winfred. By November last year, she had more
referrals from her previous guests who thought homestays offered a
homely, affordable and a more educative option to hotels.
Winfred has since moved to a bigger house to accommodate the growing number of guests who come visiting every season.
The homestay concept is not a hotel or bed and
breakfast, but a non-commercial, private residence for paying guests who
prefer staying in the comfort and security of a family home and
literally being like part of the family. It is for visitors looking to
experience the host’s lifestyle and is favoured by singles, couples,
groups and volunteers who come to the country for a period of time.
The host may have one or two free rooms, but which
do not exceed six, that they want to rent out as a relaxed type of
accommodation, but with most of the space left for the family. This can
either be in a home that is set in the rural areas but has all the
facilities and services of a hotel, or it can also be in a host family’s
home.
The latter is what most tourists seeking adventure
are looking for. Living with the host in his house will involve the
guests in either participating in the house chores or having services
offered.
“Homestays have much to offer and the list of
things to do is extensive as tourists look for better ways to enjoy the
traditions and culture of the people,” says Ms Gitonga, adding that the
practice has taken root in the tourism sector. Ms Gitonga charges a
daily rate of Sh5,000 for bed and breakfast and offers other services at
an extra cost.
The association of homestays under the umbrella
body of Rural Tourism Network is pushing for better mechanisms and laws
to govern homestays from the Ministry of Tourism by ensuring they get
friendly practices.
According to criteria issued by the Ministry of
Tourism, homestays have classifications such as economy level, standard
level and executive level with stipulated operational standards for each
level.
“However, these criteria have not yet been effected
which means most homestays pay the cost of a hotel license when they
register,” says Ms Gitonga.
Licence fee
The recommended license fees for homestays is
between Sh1,000 and Sh3,000, depending on the type of homestay. The
association, which has 200 members, is also pushing for mechanisms that
will ensure both the government and citizen benefit from homestays
through collection of taxes, generating income for county governments
and boost the industry through promotion of other forms of tourism.
“Through homestays we will ensure that tourism
earnings trickle down to the common citizen through the involvement of
community-based projects,” says Ms Salome Ndunge, who is part of the
homestay association.
Ms Ndunge, who is also the Founder and Director of
Inter-cultural Peace Foundation, says that her foundation seeks to
encourage intercultural homestays within communities to build peace and
integration in the country. While Ms Ndunge focuses on local,
intercultural integration, Ms Gitonga works on international investor
relations to encourage homestay tourism.
Rural Tourism Network (RTN) CEO Nicholas Ayimba
says that they have partnered with agents abroad to build a software
which connects their members to prospective tourists. Members who have
registered online get their homes featured in the company website after
thorough vetting, according to the criteria of homestays.
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