KISUMU, Kenya, Oct 11 – The department of tourism in the national government has tipped county governments to maximize levy collection on their tourism products to spur growth in their counties.
Tourism Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife Patrick Bucha says the counties have struggled to identify and market their tourism products thus the need to reap from the levy collection.
Bucha says the national government and development partners are ready to assist counties more on marketing tourist sites available within their jurisdictions.
“As a Ministry, we recognize the immense efforts carried out by stakeholders in the counties to locate these sites and make them visible,” he said.
Bucha was part of government officials from the Tourism Fund (TF) who visited Kisumu County and held a stakeholders engagement on levy collection, tourism product development, stakeholder collaboration and tourism promotion.
The Fund chairman Samson Kipkoech noted that the institution recognized the importance of the hospitality and tourism industry in playing a vital role in driving economic growth, generating employment and promoting cultural exchange.
Kipkoech noted that it is important to capitalize on the potentiality of the sector, industry players, including government bodies to work together to enhance revenue generation and in turn enhance sector development.
“As Tourism Fund, we are committed to take a lead role in collaboration with the relevant players on the regional tourism product development,” he said.
The Chairman further noted that the collaboration will entail identifying and promoting unique attractions on lake tourism, cultural heritage sites and festivals.
During the engagement, Kisumu County Executive Committee Member for sports, tourism and culture Beatrice Odongo used the occasion to push for the completion of the Mamboleo Convention Centre.
The construction of the Sh. 1.4 billion Convention Centre was started by the Jubilee government in 2021 and was to host over 5,000 delegates during the Afri-Cities conference the following year.
However, the construction stalled due to inadequate funding and got more complex further with the change of government following the general elections that ushered in Kenya Kwanza government.
“This facility should be completed, it will open up the region for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions,” said Odongo.
The Fund chairman further announced that they will extend Sh. 1 million support to the Lake Victoria Tourism Association (LVTA) towards their planned Annual General Meeting scheduled for next month.
