Tourism hailed as cornerstone of economic growth

By Peter Ochieng 

The tourism sector has been hailed as a cornerstone of economic growth, cultural exchange and social development.

Addressing stakeholders during Tourism Professional Association (TPA) Annual General Meeting and members training in Kisumu on Thursday, Farida Salim, Kisumu County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for trade and tourism said the industry has the power to transform communities, create jobs and preserve our rich cultural heritage.

“In Kisumu County, we are proud of our vibrant tourism sector which continues to thrive and evolve, thanks to the collective efforts of professionals,” she said.

“As we gather here, we must recognize the importance of continuous learning and professional development in keeping pace with the ever-changing dynamics of the global tourism industry. Your commitment to excellence is what drives the success of our sector,” she added.

During protests, Farida added, the trade and tourism sector suffer immensely as businesses remain shut for fear of being looted. “I call upon the people of Kisumu and Kenyans in general to understand that as we advance our grievances, businesses suffer. When we kill the tourism industry, the economy is generally affected.”

Besides the training and AGM, Professor Ray Mutinda, TPA chairman said they are putting heads together in a bid to come up with a piece of legislation that will govern the tourism sector in the country.

The Bill, which he said is still in its formative stage, will address several issues, including recognition of who qualifies to be a professional, governance structures, categories of professionals and identify or recognize regional chapters.

He said barring any calamity, the Act should be operational within the next one year. In 2022, Kenya’s tourism performance continued on a recovery path. International tourist arrivals were 1,483,752 which represented a 70.45% increase as compared to 2021 arrivals of 870,465.

Inbound receipts in the year grew up to Sh268.09 billion compared to Sh146.51 billion in 2021 which is a growth of 83%.