Overpriced tourism products and services hindering growth, CS Balala says
What you need to know:
- Mr Balala said most players in the sector were finding it difficult to attract clients because of their extremely expensive products and services.
- The CS also asked the stakeholders to diversify their products so that they can remain relevant.
- He further observed that Kenya was doing better than other countries in terms of tourism, which should motivate tourism players to improve their strategies.
Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala on Friday asked operators in the tourism industry to offer customer friendly products and services to attract local and international clients.
Mr Balala said most players in the sector were finding it difficult to attract clients because of their extremely expensive products and services.
“This habit of charging higher amounts for services is locking out prospective clients, as a tourism centred country we have to know how to grow this business and it can only be achieved by offering affordable charges to both local and foreign clients,” he said.
The Cabinet secretary was speaking in Nyeri where he launched the Giraffe Ark Hotel.
He said as much as the tourism industry wants to make a huge profit, both local and foreign clients would prefer moving to the affordable places.
He said this would make it difficult for local tourism to grow.
Mr Balala also asked the stakeholders to diversify their products so that they can remain relevant.
“Kenyans have developed an urge for high-end products. Build courage and also invest in internationally rated products,” Mr Balala said.
“The government has made improving the infrastructure a prerogative to assist you in marketing your products. Therefore I call upon you to stop overpricing your products, that will bring you more clients,” he added.
He said that the ministry is developing a ten-year strategic plan which will improve services in the sector.
DOING BETTER
He further observed that Kenya was doing better than other countries in terms of tourism, which should motivate tourism players to improve their strategies.
The Cabinet secretary challenged counties in the Mt Kenya region to use the richly untapped potential to improve the tourism sector.
“County governments have to play the greatest role in promoting investment in tourism through creating a tax haven for investors in the tourism sector,”
Among those who had accompanied Mr Balala are the chairman of Anchor Group Peter Mahu, who is also the proprietor of the hotel, Ms Mary Luseka, the chief executive officer of Brand Kenya and officials from Mt Kenya Tourism Circuit.
