‘Homestay’ deal opens new doors to tourism cash

Ten years, ago Mr Charles Kinyua completed building a five-bedroom house in his rural home in Kamakwa village on the slopes of the Aberdares in Nyeri County. The home was to provide comfort for his Nairobi-based family during holidays such as Christmas.

A few years down the line, he realised it wasn’t such a good investment, after all. His family was not interested in holidays in the village. They would rather go to Mombasa, Naivasha or other trendy destinations. When funds allowed, they loved holidays outside the country.

In three years, the family had spent only one weekend in the house. Mr Kinyua’s case mirrors that of many well-to-do Kenyans. After building homes in the city, they proceed to construct big houses in their rural homes. The result is magnificent houses dotting the countryside in which nobody lives.

Mr Kinyua’s fortunes changed in 2008  when a friend introduced him to the concept of Homestay tourism. For a fee, tourists stay at the home and sample life in a village setting while enjoying all the modern conveniences.

The concept is spreading rapidly in Nyeri, a county grappling with inadequate hotel bed capacity for an increasing number of domestic and foreign tourists.

Like Mr Kinyua, Mr John Kagondu opened his house in Tetu to visitors in 2009. It has a spacious living room, dining area, a fully equipped kitchen, a fireplace and three bedrooms that nobody was using.

His farm completed the ideal rural setting — coffee and tea plantations, a vegetable garden as well as cattle and chicken rearing. These things were to prove particularly attractive to visitors who had no idea what some of the products they buy in supermarkets look like at the farm level.

“Besides the activities on the farm, my home is in close proximity to natural attractions such as Zaina Falls, Aberdares National Park and trout fishing in the many rivers flowing down the Aberdares,” Mr Kagondu said.

By the end of 2012, he was hosting an average of 60 visitors a year, earning a good income. Some of those were day visitors while others were overnight guests. His most memorable day was when he hosted the Chinese ambassador to Kenya, Mr Lui Guangyuan.

Willing visitors are taught how to milk or pick coffee and tea. They are offered lessons in cooking local dishes, African hairstyles and traditional sports such as archery.

Both Mr Kinyua and Mr Kagondu are part of a fledging Homestay sub-sector in the county that is expected to complement hotel bed capacity while at the same time provide income for local residents with idle home space.

SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS

Last week, the county government took some 130 Homestay operators through training to equip them with skills necessary for successful operations.

Homestay in not unique to Kenya. Countries like South Africa and Egypt have a flourishing Homestay sub-sector. Kenya is now actively pursuing the concept, having created new standards and regulations for the sector.

For the Nyeri County government, Homestay will make all the difference later this month when the county hosts the May 23 Beatification of Catholic nun Irene Stefani in an event expected to attract more than 100,000 pilgrims from around the world.

“The beatification of Sister Stefani is a great opportunity through which we plan to showcase the county’s tourism products and put the Homestays on a firm path for growth,” county Tourism minister Stanley Miano said, adding that the county is marketing old and new routes to Mt Kenya and the Aberdares.

“We have undertaken tourism resource mapping through GPS/GIS systems to identify and market unexploited climbing routes to Mt Kenya. We are also in the process of creating signage for most tourism sites in the county.”

Located between Mt Kenya and the Aberdares, two of the biggest national water towers, the county is rich in indigenous forests, nature trails, pristine rock formations, and waterfalls such as Zaina and Karuru in the Aberdares.

“The Aberdares and Mt Kenya national parks teem with wild game that include elephants and buffaloes. We are, therefore, in a position to provide alternatives to the traditional beach holiday destinations,” Mr Miano said.

While the county is projecting steady growth in tourism numbers in the next two years, there is no guarantee of exponential development in accommodation because this rests in the hands of individual enterprise.

“This is why we  are embracing Homestays, which provide different experiences to visitors who get to interact with the local community and share their rural life experiences.

“It is also suitable for urban-based Kenyans who have no roots in rural areas. They learn what goes on in a farm on a daily basis and enjoy natural sounds away from the urban bustle,” says Mr Miano.

The regional  director of the Tourism Regulatory Authority, Mr David Gitonga, says the authority is training Homestay operators in hospitality, regulations and safety.

“In addition, Homestays must fulfill guidelines regarding emergency response, security, hygiene and sanitation. One family member must be living within the home. It is only after inspection and certification by the authority that they get licensed.”

The government has set a Sh1,000 fee for an economy level Homestay, Sh2,000 for standard level Homestay and Sh3,000 for executive Homestay. The home must not have more than six rooms, which would be put in the class of a guest house.

Mr Gitonga says the authority is encouraging more local residents to venture into the business.