The government has been on a mission to increase revenue by adopting several measures such as the privatisation of State-owned enterprises.
In the Fourth Medium Term Plan (MTP IV) 2023-2027, it was announced that the government is scheduled to privatise guest houses owned by the Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) including bandas and tented camps.
"The project entails privatization of guest houses owned by KWS, bandas and tented camps," read part of the report.
Some of the guest houses owned by KWS include; Kilimanjaro Annex, Murera Cottage, Kinna Cottages, Meru Guest House, Kapkuro Cottage, Sirimon Cottage, Batian Guest House, and Lake Jipe Cottages among others.
Another measure to be introduced to expand the revenue base is the digitisation of revenue management systems (RMS) in all parks. The government in 2023 had also issued a directive for all park visitors to pay via eCitizen.
Additionally, the government is looking to ensure the sharing of wildlife resources between state-owned parks and reserves, private conservancies and community conservation areas.
Privatising the guest houses and digitising the RMS are among the strategies the government wants to implement to boost the tourism sector which is one of the country's economic pillars.
Per the report, tourism earnings more than quadrupled in 2022 at Ksh268.1 billion compared to 2007 when the country gained Ksh65 billion. The number of arrivals rose from 1,203,200 in 2008 to 2,035,400 in 2019.
"The goal of the tourism sector is to make Kenya a top ten long haul tourist destination offering a high end, diverse and distinctive visitor experience," read part of the report.
The sector however took a hit during the pandemic and two years after the travel restrictions were lifted globally. Going forward, the government seeks to fully utilise and encourage domestic tourism.
One of the challenges identified was an overdependence on nature-based activities such as beaches and safaris. Another challenge was the loss of biodiversity, vanishing glaciers in Mt Kenya and Mt Kilimanjaro, and rising sea levels due to climate change.
However, the Ministry of Tourism was asked to enhance marketing strategies towards attracting more tourists, both locally and internationally.
8 Confirmed Dead After Truck Plunges Into River News Just In
