HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 134541,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/134541/?format=api",
"text_counter": 398,
"type": "other",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "plains, the mountains, the forests and the desert. Each of these features can be an attraction. We also have smaller features across the country which his staff needs to find out, even if they are very small. For example, there is a rock in Machakos where there is a footprint of a human being. There is another one in Bungoma. These things, small as they might be, can be attractions. I think one of the things that the Minister should do immediately is to instruct the staff to move and identify any potential sites; anything that can be of attraction; any activity that can be of attraction, be it athletics, animals or trees, anything that can attract because we are in a competitive world. When we are in competitive business, you need to devise measures like the business people will talk about cut-throat measures. We also need to come up with cut-throat measures in terms of our tourism in the country. Therefore, I would urge the Minister to really look at anything that can attract visitors to the country. I would also like to touch on the issue of marketing. I think this is one issue which should be stressed. I have visited some of our foreign embassies and what you see on the display are photographs of Maasais, animals and maybe, that is about it and then a packet of Ketepa tea. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I think the Minister knows that we have more than that in the country and, therefore, we need aggressive marketing around the world. The world knows what is going on. I remember there was one time I was out of the country and one visitor who had been to Nairobi was very disappointed because when he came to Nairobi, he was expecting to see a very good monument or photographs of Kipchoge Keino, Ben Jipcho and all the athletes who are winning now. He came all the way from the airport to the City Centre and there was none. I think those are some of the small things that can improve our tourism. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, a small country like Israel gets much more money from tourism because of her historic sites. When people visit there, whether they go as pilgrims or tourists, they leave money there. That money is from tourism. So, I am urging the Minister to really do aggressive marketing. There is also the issue of dissemination of information. I think we need to talk about tourism even in schools. That way, at any level or age, people know about tourism. Schools and colleges can introduce programs to teach that subject. That way, we will tackle the whole issue of tourism. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would also like to mention just one or two other issues. The Minister talked about the improvement of hotels and infrastructure. Mr. Minister, I just want to remind you: When you talk about Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC), there is a very potential hotel at the top â the Panoramic Hotel â which is a revolving hotel. If you develop that revolving hotel in the City, you can sit at the top there and see the whole country and even beyond. That is also an attraction. As people come for conferences at KICC, they can also use that facility and it will bring in some money. When we talk about tourism, whether it is a small hotel in the countryside or a big hotel in the City or at the Coast, we need that money! Whether the money goes to the local authorities, individual conservancies or to the main Ministry, any money coming to Kenya, Mr. Minister, will, definitely, help in terms of developing our country. That issue needs to be addressed. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would also like to mention that Maasai Mara is one of the wonders of the world, and you need to enhance it. Finally, I also want"
}