Nairobi, 24th May 2024
Nairobi City County Government’s Inclusivity, Public Participation and Customer Service Sector, through its sub sector of City Culture Arts and Tourism is currently formulating a Tourism Policy in accordance with the constitutional mandate outlined in schedule 4 of the 2010 Constitution of Kenya, recognizing the pivotal role of the tourism industry in achieving socially acceptable, economically efficient and inclusive sustainable development.
The County aims at fostering consensus building, transparency, and accountability in formulating a robust Tourism Policy that reflects the aspirations and needs of its residents, businesses, and visitors alike.
The draft policy embodies a vision that celebrates our city’s rich cultural heritage, embraces innovation, and sustainability as the cornerstone of our tourism ecosystem.
Dr. Benjamin Kimolo, Director for Research and Policy urged the stakeholders to give candid feedback and ensure that the Policy will be forward looking, he said, “This gathering represents a unique opportunity for us to come together, exchange ideas, and chart a course that will not only redefine Nairobi’s tourism landscape but also propel it to new heights of excellence and sustainability. Today’s process is necessary in developing a policy that will have clear goals therefore ensure that you go through each and every detail so that we can get a policy that is internationally recognized and can be benchmarked globally.”
The Deputy Director Tourism Ms. Susan Mukuhi said,” Together, we have traversed through the inception stage, meticulously analyzed the current state of tourism, formulated robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks, and crafted a comprehensive Draft Tourism Policy. This is a consultative meeting because we want to ensure that we have a sustainable policy that guides the framework of tourism in Nairobi City County and is in line with the Governor’s Manifesto of creating a city of order, dignity, hope and opportunity for all while reigniting the vibe of the city. Let us harness the transformative power of tourism to uplift lives, foster inclusivity, and safeguard our natural and cultural heritage for generations to come.”
Stella Kemunto Deputy Director for Culture and Arts emphasized on the need for a policy that is all inclusive, evidence based and is communicative by using standard professional layman’s language. She said, “We recognize that the true measure of success in tourism lies in its ability to create meaningful opportunities for all members of society. Through inclusive policies and targeted interventions, we aim to ensure that Nairobi’s tourism sector benefits everyone regardless of age, gender, ability, or background.”
The stakeholders gave recommendations on the areas that needed focus including partnerships with the private sector and government agencies, pitching of the policy and addressing persistent challenges like security concerns, transportation of tourists and accessibility of tourist sites.
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