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"id": 134483,
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"content": "years relied on the traditional tourist source markets and tourism products. In cognizant of this, my Ministry has embarked on the diversification of tourists source markets and tourism products. My Ministry has embarked on diversification of new tourism source markets, for example, Russia, Eastern Europe, Middle East, India and Africa. The diversification of products also leads to distribution of tourism wealth geographically across the country, thereby creating jobs and businesses in most parts of the country. It will also provide economic opportunities and its multiplier effect will stimulate growth in other sectors and facilitate the eradication of poverty as outlined in the Vision 2030. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, apart from the beautiful traditional beaches and wildlife safaris, Kenya is endowed with many tourist products that need to be developed. In this regard, my Ministry is focusing on various circuits among them western Kenya which has many attractive features like the Obama roots, the beautiful Lake Victoria, the Kisii and the Luo cultures, the fabulous bull fights of western Kenya and the only remaining tropical forest on the eastern part of Africa, the Kakamega Forest. Other tourist products include the rich cultures in other regions of the country, adventure, sports tourism such as safari rally, golfing, scuba diving, our world renowned athletes and the Safari Seven rugby team, bird watching, historical and archeological attractions that abound in our country. These products appeal to a cross section of visitors and encourage repeat visitors to the destination. I can assure the hon. Members of this House that these products are high yielding and the revenue generation per visitor will be greatly enhanced. Coupled with this development, the concept of home stays will be promoted to enable visitors experience first-hand Kenyan hospitality and culture. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, international tourism is highly vulnerable and sensitive to adverse publicity, terrorists activities and perceived insecurity over tourist destination. Most of these factors are unpredictable and mainly out of control. Domestic and regional tourism, therefore, comes in handy as a way of cushioning the sector from the ups and downs in the international markets. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, during our best year of tourism in 2007, we generated Kshs65 billion and the arrivals were about 1.8 million tourists. In 2008, we managed to generate Kshs52 billion with 729,000 tourist arrivals. My Ministry has embarked on a sustained promotion of domestic tourism to encourage the local population to avail themselves the opportunities the country has to offer. Despite the fact that we are putting a lot of resources in domestic tourism, unfortunately the culture and attitude of Kenyans travelling at the same time during Easter, August holidays and December is congesting the sector. We will find a way of how we can spread throughout the country. As I speak here, the Mombasa Show is being held today. People are very busy and there are quite a number of visitors at the Coast. Unfortunately, we have heard that tomorrow there will be strike by the Kenya Airways staff due to some problems or breakdown of negotiations. These are unfortunate circumstances which are coming up and they will derail tourism publicity and promotion and domestic tourism. I wish that strike can be suspended for the sake of the industry to allow it grow and somebody can facilitate amicable negotiations with the trade unions and Kenya Airways."
}