Why more people should think like Senator Mbura on tourism
What you need to know:
- Given Kenya’s coast history with sex tourism that includes children, the example is insensitive. Yet that is part of the job description of Kenya’s political class; to speak in ways that leave the public horrified and bewildered.
- Every region has a culture that can be showcased, potentially diversifying Kenya’s tourism products and increasing numbers at our ports of entry.
- This concept is closely tied to another incident, in which the German Embassy has been sued for using the picture of a lady for the poster of the Loyangalani Cultural Festival in Marsabit County.
A nominated senator, Ms Emma Mbura, has caused a storm with what is construed as her advocating nudity in an effort to attract tourism back to the Kenyan coast.
I do not hold brief for the senator, but the concept she is trying to perpetuate is neither new nor strange. She is basically advocating cultural tourism, which focuses on the peoples of a region, their culture, religion, art, dress, food, festivities, rites of passage, architecture and holistic lifestyle.
It is one of the fastest-growing global tourism markets.
The example she chose to use is rather unfortunate, as many have chosen to hear only of the nude girls dancing for the enjoyment and entertainment of tourists. It is a risky example used to illustrate, and as a result kill, a noble idea.
Given the Kenya coast's history with sex tourism that includes children, the example is insensitive. Yet that is part of the job description of Kenya’s political class; to speak in ways that leave the public horrified and bewildered.
I must point out, though, that at least the Senator has captured the spirit of devolution. Leaders were supposed to look in their own backyard and find ways to attract or generate revenues that would finally jumpstart development in some of our regions.
LAZY TOURISM
Thinking of culture as a product is ingenious, as it would only take a little modification to align it with the Constitution before putting on the market. If one of the rituals of a culture is snatching little girls from school to marry them off, obviously it would be illegal to present that as a cultural tourism product.
Where regulations on indecent exposure exist, it would be foolhardy to try and circumvent it in the name of diversifying a tourism product.
Kenya has concentrated on lazy tourism, so to speak: natural heritage comprising beaches, wildlife, mountains and scenery. This is a heritage that humans have not worked for. Many times humans have been part of its destruction, with an unbelievable sense of entitlement.
Whereas not all parts of Kenya are naturally endowed with such gifts, every region has a culture that can be showcased, potentially diversifying Kenya’s tourism products and increasing numbers at our ports of entry.
Statistics from the 2013 Kenya EconomicSurvey show that Kenyan tourism has been on the decline since 2010. Minimal increase has only been experienced in Nairobi, but Mombasa in particular has been on a declining trend.
A hotel worker walks past empty sun-beds at Mombasa Beach Hotel in this photo taken on March 9, 2015. The tourism sector has continued to suffer due to a slump in the number of foreigners visiting Kenya's coast. PHOTO | WACHIRA MWANGI | NATION
Analysis from as organisations such as Kippra attribute this decline to perceptions of Mombasa being a mass-market destination, as opposed to high-end, exclusive destination. Withdrawal of direct flights to Mombasa, among other factors, has led to a 20 per cent decrease in business at the Moi International Airport.
Other reasons include concentration of efforts in traditional markets. A change of marketing strategy has often not generated the desired results though, and of course, the “reason behind the reason” for declines in flights and numbers is security.
GERMAN EMBASSY SUED
Some of these perceptions, such as mass-market destinations, are driven by lack of value addition for products, such as white sands. There is not much one can do with a natural product, as opposed to a man-made product in which the distribution and consumption can be determined beforehand.
This concept is closely tied to another incident, in which the German Embassy has been sued for using the picture of a lady for the poster of the Loyangalani Cultural Festival in Marsabit County.
The fact that the lady had been identified – never mind by whom – as the very epitome and representation of her culture should have been a great honour to her and her family.
Of course, the use of her photograph and all rights associated therein should have been discussed and agreed before the fact.
Tourism contributes a good percentage of Kenya’s GDP each year. In 2013 it contributed 12.1 per cent of GDP, with only a few other sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and wholesale and retail ahead of it
Any ideas on how it can be improved should not be scoffed at or dismissed, no matter how bizarre they sound, and they will sound bizarre if they are generated by a politician.
Twitter: @muthonithangwa
