Map safe tourist sites to shield them from travel warnings, ministry told

A file phooto shows Lucy Karume (right) receiving a cheque from Lucy Mbugua. Ms. Karume, who is Tourism Recovery Task Force Chairperson said Malindi, Kilifi and Watamu towns, for example, should be categorised as safe resorts at the Coast, with international tourists urged to visit them PHOTO | FILE  

In Summary

• Malindi, Kilifi and Watamu towns, for example, should be categorised as safe resorts at the Coast, with international tourists urged to visit them, she added.
• He said some European chartered airlines had withdrawn flights to Mombasa as they were incurring losses due to a low number of passengers.
• The national marketing agency will involve the 47 county governments in local and international marketing campaigns to attract locals and outsiders, he added.

By MATHIAS RINGA
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Safe tourism circuits should be mapped out to protect them from the effects of blanket travel advisories issued by Western countries, it has been suggested.

Tourism Recovery Task Force Chairperson Lucy Karume said the strategy would prevent the issuing of blanket travel advisories, which have been hurting tourism across the country.

She said tourists would be encouraged to visit resort towns that are secure, thereby ensure the country does not lose international holidaymakers to other countries.

Malindi, Kilifi and Watamu towns, for example, should be categorised as safe resorts at the Coast, with international tourists urged to visit them, she added.

COURT HOLIDAYMAKERS

Ms Karume said Egypt had successfully implemented the zoning of safe tourist resorts.

“Malindi and Watamu tourist towns suffer a lot because of the blanket travel advisories issued by Western countries when terrorists hit Mombasa,” she said.

“Zoning safe tourism circuits across the country will woo back holidaymakers,” she added.

Ms Karume spoke at Voyager Hotel in Mombasa on Tuesday when the task force was gathering views from the region.

At the same time, Ms Karume called on the Kenya Tourism Board to make domestic and regional tourism a priority to cushion the sector from the international tourist drought.

She said 2015 and 2016 would be difficult years due to insecurity in Mombasa and other parts of the country.

“I call on tourism board and hoteliers to mount aggressive marketing campaigns to woo locals and tourists from across East Africa to boost hotel occupancy,” she said.

Turn around sector

Ms Karume said the neighbouring tourism markets of Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi could turn around the sector if marketing was directed there.

Kenya Tourism Board managing director Muriithi Ndegwa said chartered airlines from traditional source markets should be given incentives to cushion them from losses they make owing to low passenger numbers.

OFFER INCENTIVES

He said some European chartered airlines had withdrawn flights to Mombasa as they were incurring losses due to a low number of passengers.

He said the board has set aside $50,000 (Sh4.5 million) to offer incentives to chartered airlines still flying to Mombasa.

Mr Ndegwa appealed to the six counties at the Coast to raise $300,000 (Sh27 million) for the same cause.

“We need to offer incentives to chartered airlines that support tourism so that they can continue to bring holidaymakers to the Coast region,” said Mr Ndegwa.

The national marketing agency will involve the 47 county governments in local and international marketing campaigns to attract locals and outsiders, he added.

He said the board would hold talks with governors and county tourism executives.

Mr Ndegwa said the marketing agency will take part in the Berlin travel fair in Germany in March next year to woo back holidaymakers from the European country.

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REACTION

Counties to set up regional marketing agency

Taita Taveta Governor John Mruttu said the six counties in the Coast region are planning to form a regional tourism marketing agency as part of efforts to revive the ailing sector.

“We resolved to establish a regional tourism agency to come up with our own marketing strategies rather than solely depend on the Kenya Tourism Board,” he added.