Hoteliers welcome bid to form Coast tourism board
Tourists admire curios on display at the Whitesands Hotel beach front in Mombasa on July 21, 2014. PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT |
What you need to know:
- The board was proposed by leaders who met last weekend in Mombasa and agreed to also create a Commonwealth of Coast Counties
- The leaders also said that a panel had been put in place to develop structures for the formation of the commonwealth of coast counties.
Tourism players at the Coast have welcomed a plan by Coast leaders to boost the economy, create jobs and battle insecurity.
Mombasa and Coast Tourism Association Chairman Mohammed Hersi said the proposal by Coast elected leaders and scholars to form Coast Tourism Development Board is a noble idea in revitalising the sector.
“It’s a fantastic idea that we fully support. Seeing people coming together with such synergy cannot be measured by anything,” added Mr Hersi in an interview with Sunday Nation.
The board was proposed by leaders who met last weekend in Mombasa and agreed to also create a Commonwealth of Coast Counties to address challenges and develop economic, social and political space in Kwale, Taita Taveta, Mombasa, Kilifi, Tana River and Lamu counties.
The leaders appointed Taita Taveta woman representative Joyce Lay to chair the tourism body and spearhead the revival of the sector from its current death bed.
The leaders also said that a panel had been put in place to develop structures for the formation of the commonwealth of coast counties.
“Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani (Commonwealth of Coast counties) will comprise governors, senators, MPs, leaders of majority and minority and county assembly speakers, academicians, religious leaders and other stakeholders including the business people,” Mr Mvurya added.
Mr Hersi hailed the move, saying by coming together under such formation, the six counties will effectively market their diverse tourism products internationally.
