fbpx
Potentash
  • Relationships
    • The Singlehood Series
    • Dating
    • Sex
    • Parenting
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Food + Beverage
    • Fashion
  • Fiction
    • Short Stories & Poetry
  • Skin + Beauty
    • Skin
      • Skincare
    • Hair
      • Haircare
  • Wellness
    • Physical Health
    • Emotional Wellness
    • Mental Wellness
    • Social Wellness
    • Spiritual Wellness
  • Business
    • Business Finance
    • Personal Finance
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Investments
    • Personal Investments
  • Travel
  • Entertainment
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
Potentash
  • Relationships
    • The Singlehood Series
    • Dating
    • Sex
    • Parenting
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Food + Beverage
    • Fashion
  • Fiction
    • Short Stories & Poetry
  • Skin + Beauty
    • Skin
      • Skincare
    • Hair
      • Haircare
  • Wellness
    • Physical Health
    • Emotional Wellness
    • Mental Wellness
    • Social Wellness
    • Spiritual Wellness
  • Business
    • Business Finance
    • Personal Finance
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Investments
    • Personal Investments
  • Travel
  • Entertainment
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
Potentash
No Result
View All Result

Time to promote local tourism nigh – Shitemi Khamadi

Rayhab Gachango by Rayhab Gachango
May 30, 2014
in Uncategorized
Reading Time: 4 mins read
11 0
0
13
SHARES
72
VIEWS
FacebookTwitterWhatsApp

lamu 1
Kenya’s tourism sector has always been susceptible to global and local trends that disempower the country and locals. From terrorism, increased insecurity to global recession, the country has seen quite a hit over the years. In the recent slump, about 4000 jobs were lost.

The Chinese are not going to offer the solution to our tourism problems. They are not spenders neither do we offer them something invaluable. Their economy lacks a huge middle class who would take holidays. In reality, the Chinese economy has also been on a low due to the global recession which has seen demand decrease. China is heavily reliant on exports to spur its growth.

The main solution to our tourism is Kenya. Just the same way Africa lags behind partly due to failure of trading with itself, Kenya does not promote its own tourism. The vagaries of the international market hit hard countries and institutions that rely on others and not themselves.

While globalization has taken root today and no country can sustainably thrive on its own, so much can be done to reduce the reliance on other people or countries. Tourism being the second foreign exchange earner for Kenya, so much should be done to insulate the country from global and local threats to its growth.

Firstly, the attitude by the hospitality community towards Kenyans must change. Today, you walk into many leading hotels and restaurants and the treatment is baffling in comparison to a white person. Basic things like serving the food, you evidently see the white person being assisted much faster. The thinking around many waiters for instance is that they can get a good tip from them. The reality is that fellow country men and women know their problems better including their low pay and long hours of work and give more tip than whites.

Secondly, package the industry for Kenyans. The prices for most hotels are beyond the reach of most Kenyans. The industry players have to come up with affordable and attractive packages to Kenyans. Too few Kenyans can afford, and those who can, decline to explore the charges of sh20, 000 a night and within that range.

Thirdly, use recognized brands like athletes and the sevens rugby team to market the country. Institutions like Brand Kenya are doing a lot of nothing apart from collecting salaries and commissions. These people do so much to marketing Kenya than established institutions, they need to be supported and branded to leverage on their fame and opportunity cost when they are out of the country doing their trade.

Fourthly, there is need to inculcate a saving culture. A saving culture among people is not just about using savings for investments. They can tangibly be used for vacation. In fact, many tourists save to come enjoy our facilities. They are quite indebted at home and this reduces their ability to spend as they wish. But they create the money and time to relax. This we must learn.

Fifthly, inculcate home stays. This is the practice where instead of tourists staying in hotels, we host them in our homes. This not only provides people with more income which will still find their way to the economy, but they learn our culture. The host communities can also learn from them.
rusinga island
Sixthly, conference tourism is an untapped potential. It does not make sense that there is no facility like Kenyatta International Conference Center (KICC) in Mombasa. Even if someone just wants to east from one being in Nairobi, creating another one in Mombasa will offer more eating avenues.

Tourism is really not just about attending an event or holiday and going home thereafter. It is a whole package where other commodities like artifacts and general supplies like recreational facilities and shops benefits.

It is certainly surmountable to think local and reinvigorate our tourism sector. The answers to our challenges should less be about others and more about us. Reliance on others has never achieved sustainable growth. The more the sector and stakeholders envision and act on the local potential, the better Kenya will grow and tangibly tell off outsiders.

The writer is a political blogger. Twitter @oleshitemi

Share5Tweet3SendShare1Pin1
Previous Post

The GoDown Gig is happening this saturday featuring @antoneosoul

Next Post

Events are the best way to promote Tembea Kenya

Rayhab Gachango

Rayhab Gachango

Potentash Founder. A creative writer and editor at Potentash. Passionate about telling African stories. Find me at hi@potentash.com

Next Post

Events are the best way to promote Tembea Kenya

Please login to join discussion

Recommended

Sweet Cakes Will Not Get You Love Or Keep You Warm At Night (Part 2)

January 12, 2021
246
Ol Lentille. Image from http://www.yummy.co.ke/breathtaking-romantic-getaways-kenya/

10 Kenyan perfect Romantic Get-Away Locations

February 5, 2016
3.5k

Popular Stories

  • Pregnant black woman on hospital bed image from https://www.everydayhealth.com/congestive-heart-failure/guide/

    The Singlehood Series: How I Drove My Boyfriend’s Pregnant Girlfriend To Deliver Their Baby Without Knowing

    1778 shares
    Share 711 Tweet 445
  • He Proposed That I Should Become His Mistress – What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

    1036 shares
    Share 414 Tweet 259
  • The Cologne Scent I Breathed In At The Supermarket Reminded Me Of Love Lost And The Regrets I Had Over Leaving The Love Of My Life

    174 shares
    Share 70 Tweet 44
  • He Dumped Her Because He Wasn’t Ready For A Long Term Commitment But Ended Up Proposing To Her Best Friend

    194 shares
    Share 78 Tweet 49
  • The Singlehood Series: She Asked Him For An Open Relationship But She Didn’t Expect The Turn Of Events

    476 shares
    Share 190 Tweet 119

Potentash Blog

Potentash

Potentash is an award-winning lifestyle blog. We publish lifestyle content that intersects with health, women, beauty, travel, business, relationships, finances and entertainment.

Categories

  • Ethics Statement
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2022. Potentash, In Partnership with Decima

  • Login
No Result
View All Result
  • Relationships
    • The Singlehood Series
    • Dating
    • Sex
    • Parenting
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Food + Beverage
    • Fashion
  • Fiction
    • Short Stories & Poetry
  • Skin + Beauty
    • Skin
      • Skincare
    • Hair
      • Haircare
  • Wellness
    • Physical Health
    • Emotional Wellness
    • Mental Wellness
    • Social Wellness
    • Spiritual Wellness
  • Business
    • Business Finance
    • Personal Finance
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Investments
    • Personal Investments
  • Travel
  • Entertainment

Copyright © 2022. Potentash, In Partnership with Decima

Welcome Back!

Sign In with Linked In
OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In