Tourism in limbo as key agencies lack board directors after new law
PHOTO | GIDEON MAUNDU | FILE Tsavo East National Park.
What you need to know:
- Tourism Cabinet Secretary Phyllis Kandie said this would continue until the Tourism Act was amended
- Further delays in constituting the boards of parastatals are likely to hurt the industry as many of them cannot make decisions without board approval
Tourism is in limbo as almost all agencies managing it have no board of directors as the government wrestles with plans to cut Parliament out of the appointments.
Last year’s Tourism Act dissolved parastatal boards paving the way for competitive recruitment. However, the process has stalled.
Speaking on Tuesday, Tourism Cabinet Secretary Phyllis Kandie said this would continue until the Tourism Act was amended. “The Act has been difficult to implement,” Ms Kandie noted.
She was speaking to the press in Nairobi where she announced that Kenya would host The International Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference. It runs from September 24 to September 27.
Under the Act the President appoints a chair while the minister appoints five board members. The names of the six ought to be tabled in Parliament for approval.
“This has made it quite difficult to get the right board members,” Ms Kandie added. “After talks, we decided to review the law.”
Ms Kandie said the ministry was in talks with the Attorney-General on how to make the amendments.
The Cabinet Secretary did not provide a timeline within which the review would be completed.
NEGATIVE IMPLICATIONS
Further delays in constituting the boards of parastatals are likely to hurt the industry as many of them cannot make decisions without board approval.
The parastatals include Kenya Tourism Board — charged with marketing the country as a tourist destination — and Kenya Tourism Development Corporation — mandated to extend investment financing for the toursim industry.
The Act also provides for the establishment of new bodies to regulate and develop the sector.
These include the Tourism Regulatory Authority, the Tourism Research Institute, the Tourism Fund and the Tourism Finance Corporation.
The International Ecotourism and Sustainable Conference will bring together over 500 delegates from around the world to hold talks.
“Eco tourism is a key element of our strategy and vision for tourism,” said Ms Kandie.
Last year, tourism raked in about Sh96 billion. It has been facing problems with visitors last year falling by 29,000 to 1.23 million.
