Nairobi, 25th June 2024
Nairobi City County Government through its sub sector of City Culture, Arts and Tourism held a tourism stakeholders’ meeting to collectively review and validate the draft County Tourism Policy as part of efforts in ensuring that the county has a comprehensive, inclusive and effective tourism policy that promotes sustainable tourism growth while addressing the diverse needs of the stakeholders and the people of Nairobi at large.
Dr. Anastasia Nyalita, County Executive Committee Member for Inclusivity, Public Participation and Customer Service, where City culture arts and tourism is domiciled said that the policy aims to streamline operations, enhance infrastructure, and implement best practices that will elevate Nairobi’s status as a premier tourist destination.
Said Dr. Nyalita, “Nairobi, known as the Green City under the Sun, is not only the gateway to East Africa but also a vibrant hub of culture, heritage, and natural beauty. Our city’s unique blend of urban sophistication and wild splendor offers unparalleled experiences to both residents and visitors. However, to fully realize our potential, it is essential that we have a robust and forward-thinking tourism policy that aligns with the Governor’s Sakaja’s vision of a city of order, hope, dignity, and opportunity for all.”
Dr. Nyalita further stated that by fostering a dynamic and inclusive tourism sector the County’s aim is to create job opportunities, economic growth, and community development emphasizing on the importance of supporting local businesses, artisans, and entrepreneurs to ensure that the benefits of tourism are felt far and wide.
“In the Governor’s Manifesto, the creative economy is one of the priority areas. This is witnessed by allowing content creators to shoot their content around the city on Sunday’s without any restrictions and free of charge. The Governor is very deliberate when it comes to the tourism sector matters and that is why we have come up with a strong team for the sector’s operations and also formed a Directorate of tourism in the county.
Your feedback, insights, and ideas are invaluable in shaping a tourism sector that truly reflects the aspirations of our people. Let us work together to build a Nairobi that is not only a top global tourist destination but also a city where order, hope, dignity, and opportunity for all to flourish.” Said the County Executive.
The Deputy Director for tourism Ms. Susan Mukuhi said that the draft policy is a product of extensive consultations with stakeholders from all sectors of society. She said, “We have listened to the voices of our citizens, industry experts, and community leaders to create a comprehensive and inclusive framework. We are dedicated to ensuring that tourism development in Nairobi benefits everyone, leaving no one behind.”
The stakeholders were taken through the draft policy and afterwards they were able share their feedback and input before validating it. The Policy is expected to go through Public Participation before being presented to Cabinet and the County assembly respectively.
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