Tourism hit hard by terror attacks, Kandie says
Cabinet Secretary for East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism Phyllis Kandie at the launch of DOB Equity regional representative office in Nairobi on March 26, 2014. PHOTO/SALATON NJAU
What you need to know:
- domestic tourism increased in the past one year with bed capacity increasing from 37 per cent to 41 per cent
- Tourism is sensitive to terrorism and incidences in the last one year particularly Westgate affected the number of international tourists
International tourism dropped by seven per cent in the last one year due to terror attacks in Kenya.
Tourism Cabinet Secretary Phyllis Kandie said the Westgate Mall terror attack had a negative impact on the number of international tourists visiting the country.
“Tourism is sensitive to terrorism and incidences in the last one year particularly Westgate affected the number of international tourists,” she said.
She was giving a brief to the media alongside other Cabinet Secretaries on Tuesday at Harambee House, Nairobi.
On Monday, Industrialisation Cabinet Secretary Adan Mohamed, Ms Judi Wakhungu (Water), Mr Felix Kosgei (Agriculture) and Principal Secretary Mariam Elmaki addressed the media and outlined their achievements in the last one year.
Ms Kandie said the ministry had to take urgent measures to assure international visitors of their safety in Kenya.
She said domestic tourism increased in the past year with bed capacity increasing from 37 per cent to 41 per cent.
The CS said they were now focusing on enhancing domestic tourism in Kenya and also East Africa.
“We are also looking to diversify from only marketing the coast and safari and focus on business tourism,” she said.
Ms Kandie said Kenya hosted 31 international conferences despite the terror attacks, an indication that there is potential in business tourism.
She said the ministry will construct two conference facilities of international standards in Nairobi and Mombasa.
She also said the ministry was working to boost agri-tourism, sports tourism and adventure tourism.
KONZA CITY
Information Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i said Phase One of Konza City project was almost complete.
He said environment impact assessment and other surveys have been done and a tender for the construction of a pavilion will be publicised soon.
He also said the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation will be restructured by next year.
Mr Matiang’i said plans were underway to increase internet connectivity from the current 47 per cent to 60 per cent.
He said county connectivity was also being done with funding from the World Bank and the Belgium government.
Mining Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala and Transport Principal Secretary Nduva Muli also gave a brief spelling out their achievements in the last one year.
According to State House spokesperson Manoah Esipisu, the media briefings will be held in clusters as part of a decision reached during a Cabinet retreat earlier this month
The third cluster of briefing to be held on April 2 will include Constitutional and Legal Affairs Advisor Abdikadir Mohammed and Mr Joseph ole Lenku (Interior Secretary), Ms Raychelle Omamo (Defence) and Mrs Amina Mohammed (Foreign Affairs).
Others who will also address the media are Attorney General Githu Muigai, National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich, Prof Jacob Kaimenyi (Education), Ms Ann Waiguru (Devolution and Planning), Mr Kazungu Kambi (Labour) and Dr Hassan Wario (Sports).
