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{
    "id": 1274671,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1274671/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 115,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Olekina",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 407,
        "legal_name": "Ledama Olekina",
        "slug": "ledama-olekina"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. You have rightfully used your discretion to allow us to comment on the Statement by Sen. Okenyuri. The issue here is tourism; what it is bringing to this country and what we can do to enhance revenue that is coming from the tourism sector. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am happy that my brother raised a very serious concern about tourists queuing for long hours at Maasai Mara National Reserve. I will go and deal with that issue. I can assure you that we are making progress. We are doing away with cash payment to a cashless system. This will enable tourists to just go into the Maasai Mara National Reserve when they arrive at the gate. It is quite clear that the revenue this year; the revenue from the tourism sector in this country is projected to go up to around Kshs430 billion. This is an upward trajectory from the previous years. In fact, if you look at tourism in the East African Region, Tanzania only has about a million tourists. Today, Kenya has almost 1.5 million tourists coming here. That means that we are doing something. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we need to balance between supporting Kenya Airways and allowing more tourists to come. The Turkish Airlines has been pleading to be allowed to fly directly to Mombasa where they can bring in tourists all the way from Istanbul to Mombasa. That is an issue that I would want to plead with the Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transportation, Hon. Murkomen, who is also a former distinguished Senator, to at least consider. When more tourists fly into Mombasa, we earn more revenue. I am sure they will also come inland, go to Maasai Mara and we will get more revenue. It is important that we have these direct flights. One of our colleagues who spoke raised the issue of regional airports. Last year, I was against an airport being built in the Maasai Mara because one, it increases the saturation of carbon. The carbon foot print will be extended. Number two, animals will be disrupted. However, building it in Narok Town increases the revenue, activities and jobs in that area. So, we need to balance. I hope that Sen. Okenyuri can bring that Statement again, using Standing Order No.53 so that we can engage the Ministry of Roads and Transportation and ensure that we have that balance and allow more airlines to fly directly from their original areas to tourist destinations. Thank you."
}