Govt maps out sites, improves infrastructure in western circuit tourists sites to boost sector

November 15, 2024 - Features, Main Feature - no comments

BY MANUEL ODENY

Government through the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife has rolled out plans to open up the western tourism circuit.

State Department for Tourism Principal Secretary (PS) John Ololtuaa said they have already mapped out all attraction sites and are improving infrastructure to push for public and private partnership.He said the move is in collaboration with 14 county governments in the western region.

“We will seek development of the necessary auxiliary infrastructure to ensure that the sites are accessible and attractive to both local and international tourists. Already there is an inter-ministerial team in place which is looking at what each of the government departments and agencies can contribute towards tourism development, promotion, and sustainability,” he said.

Ololtuaa said the western tourism circuit, which comprises over 14 counties, is largely untapped.“We are set to redirect traffic to the area and connect it with other tourism hubs in the country,” he said.The Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) is already aggressively marketing Lake Victoria, water sports, islands, historical sites, cultural diversity, and wildlife in the area to shore up tourism numbers.

“We are looking for ways of connecting the western tourism circuit with Maasai Mara so that tourists coming to see the Wildebeest migration can extend their stay to sample Lake Victoria, water sports, and visit our islands and other attractions sites dotted across the region,” he said.

One of the proposals, he added, was to do a tarmac road linking Awendo to Kilgoris to ensure ease of movement for visitors from Maasai Mara to Homa Bay and Kisumu counties.

“The numbers are looking good. In 2023, we registered 2.086 million tourists. For the first half of this year, we have already hit the one million mark, and we are looking forward to meeting our target of 2.5 million by the end of the year,” he said.

Among top sites are Ndeere Island National Park in Kisumu and Ruma National Park in Homa Bay county.

Lake Victoria Tourism Association (LVTA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Charles Gatoro called for enhanced private sector involvement in the development of the sector.

Gatoro said some of the major attraction sites in the area were underutilised due to a lack of infrastructure, calling on the government to create an enabling environment for the private sector to invest.

“The private sector can help bridge the gap through the development of hotels and accommodation facilities in some of these areas to attract visitors and generate revenue for the government,” he said.