Hoteliers and tour firms welcome President’s directive

Coast tourism stakeholders have welcomed President Kenyatta’s initiative to help save the industry.

The President yesterday announced that the government would allow companies to pay for vacation trips for their employees and recover the expenditure from their taxes.

They said the plan would boost growth in the tourism sector.

“Under performance of this industry has been attributed to all the issues President Kenyatta has touched on in his statement and as players at the Coast we believe they will go a long way to boost growth,” said Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers executive officer Sam Ikwaye.

According to Mr Ikwaye, the hotel industry has suffered following the travel advisories by the United States and Britain.

“For years, we have made the mistake of relying too much on international tourists,” he said.

The President’s statement on tourism sector, Mr Ikwaye noted, was the first “positive and tangible news” the industry has received from the government.

“We are extremely happy the park fees have been reviewed and the provision that will enable Kenyans to tour their own country will go a long way in changing the matrix of this industry,” he said.

Mombasa and Coast Tourism Association chairman and Heritage Hotels chief executive Mohammed Hersi (left) described the government’s move as “good news and an anecdote” that the industry had been waiting for.