Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala has urged local investors to consider counties with tourism potential and take those services there/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 15 – Are you a local investor looking for a viable business idea to explore?
Setting up accommodation and catering facilities is a viable idea that the government through the Ministry of Tourism is lobbying for.
Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala has urged local investors to consider counties with tourism potential and take those services there.
“Counties are identifying new and unique products to showcase and this will increase visitations to these areas. We therefore need accommodation and catering facilities,” Balala said during the official opening of Giraffe Ark Game Lodge in Nyeri County.
At the same time, Balala said that the government will enhance its incentive programs such as tax exemptions to encourage investors come up with new products in the tourism sector.
The national government through his ministry, said Balala, will offer necessary expertise on tourism product development in line with tourism diversification strategy.
“Identifying and promotion of unique tourism products in the counties is within our strategy of diversification and we are keen on opening up other areas that are unknown” said Balala.
In a bid to improve the standard of hospitality services, Balala stated that his ministry will in the next three months launch refresher courses to equip hoteliers with relevant expertise.
Consequently his ministry through Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) will concentrate on opening up new tourism circuits across the country in close collaborations with the county governments.
His remarks come at a time when local travels have recorded an upward trend which has in the two years proved a reliable cushion to the sector during low seasons.
He however called out to hoteliers to offer affordable packages to sustain the upward trajectory growth.
