HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 61782,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/61782/?format=api",
"text_counter": 365,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Balala",
"speaker_title": "The Minister for Tourism",
"speaker": {
"id": 9,
"legal_name": "Najib Mohamed Balala",
"slug": "najib-balala"
},
"content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, in representing the National Strategy to Parliament, the National Assembly will exercise its oversight function in the growth of the tourism sector by ensuring clear linkages amongst national development planning, implementation and budgeting. All this is captured in the Bill and we will discuss it further as this debate progresses. In order to enhance efficiency in the tourism sector, the Bill seeks to strengthen existing tourism agencies and establish several special agencies. These include the Tourism Regulatory Authority, whose object and purpose is to regulate the tourism sector; the Kenya Utalii College, whose purpose and objective is to undertake tourism and hospitality training and capacity building; the Kenya Tourism Board to market Kenya; the Kenya International Conference and Convention Centre, whose objective is to promote business meetings; the Tourism Research Institute to undertake co-ordinated tourism, research and analysis, and the Tourism Fund to mobilise resources to support the development of tourism products, services and other related activities. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Kenya Tourism Development Corporation transforms its name to Tourism Finance Corporation, and it has a clear mandate of providing financial assistance to investors or entrepreneurs in the tourism sector for the development, expansion and maintenance of tourism activities and services. Finally, to address the issue of insecurity, we propose, in this Bill, that we establish the Tourism Protection Service to ensure the safety and security of visitors in all tourist destinations in collaboration with the national security agencies. So, these are the key agencies we need to establish. Of course, the Bill also talks about incentives for promotion and development of tourism. We will be keeping data and registers of the facilities with the Tourism Regulatory Authority. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we have disputes in the tourism industry. Previously, we did not know how to resolve those disputes. However, in this Bill, we have proposed the creation of the National Tourism Tribunal. In light of the specialised nature of the tourism sector, the Bill seeks to establish the National Tourism Tribunal as a mechanism for efficient dispute resolution. We appreciate the existing structures, but there will be new structures. It is clearly clarified that, upon the enactment of this Bill, various Acts of Parliament relating to tourism will be repealed and all the structures provided therein will migrate to the proposed new structures. In this case, we are talking about The Tourism Industry Licensing Act, Cap.381; The Tourist Development Corporation Act, Cap.382; The Hotel Accommodation Act, Cap.478, and the Hotels and Restaurants Act, Cap.494. There is also the issue of integrating staff members serving in the various institutions relating to these Acts into the new structures. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, Sessional Paper No.1 of 2010 on Sustainable Tourism in Kenya, and The Tourism Bill (Bill No.19), 2010, provide an enabling environment for Kenya to position itself as a premier tourist destination now and in the future. This is a product of a wide consultation with all relevant stakeholders, and I want to thank all the stakeholders. In this respect, I would like to thank the tourism private sector and the engine of growth of the sector, and the Departmental Committee on Finance, Planning and Trade; for their contribution during the workshop. Finally, I would like to thank my able Permanent Secretary, who happens to be a lady; the Director of Tourism, all chiefs of parastatals under my Ministry, together with their Boards of Directors and the entire staff of the Ministry of Tourism; who, collectively and variously, enabled this Bill to become a reality. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, therefore, I urge this House to approve the Sessional Paper on Sustainable Tourism and enact The Tourism Bill, 2010, into law so as to provide for new impetus to the tourism sector, pursuant to the national aspirations as set out in Vision 2030 and the new Constitution. With those remarks, I beg to move."
}