The Ministry of Tourism has announced plans to revamp leisure infrastructure in 10 national parks across the country amid concerns that the country is not keeping up with the change in tastes and preferences of tourists who are now overlooking Kenya for more attractive propositions.
Speaking during the last day of the Coast Tourism Stakeholders Forum in Kwale County on Thursday, Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala on Thursday announced the plan saying that he had already engaged Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) assistant directors who will report back to him with suggestions on how to improve the experience in the country’s tourist attractions.
“We have identified ten national parks in the country from Shimba Hills to Sibiloi which we feel need to be revamped to fit with what our visitors are looking for. We want to have more than just beds in the parks. Plans to brand the parks to fit international standards are also in the pipeline,” said CS Balala on the sidelines of the conference.
The Ministry has also engaged hotel owners who have agreed to align their business models to suit the experience that the tourists want to have when they visit the country.
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Also mooted at the conference is how to address persisting challenges that face the tourism sector including the beach boy menace and pollution of Kenyan waters.
Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya said that he is working with the Ministry to make sure that the region continues to attract tourists who have over the years had a soft spot for the South Coast.
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“We have been very successful in making sure that the local communities in the region remain peaceful. The Ministry has also been instrumental in marketing the South Coast region,” said Mvurya.
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