By M, KNA
The lakeside city of Kisumu is set to host the National World Tourism Day (WTD) which is slated for September 27 this year.
During an inaugural preparatory meeting which brought various stakeholders together at Kisumu Museum on Wednesday, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) in charge of Trade, Tourism, Cooperatives, Industry and Marketing; Ms Farida Salim said the national day will be preceded by a County Tourism Week which kicks off on Wednesday, September 24.
“During the week, we will showcase Kisumu`s tourism potential exhibited in Luo culture, food and hidden treasures in the county that have been exploited for tourism,” Ms. Salim said.
She is now appealing to all Kenyans from all walks of life to visit Kisumu city to experience the beautiful sites, the rich culture and the unrivalled hospitality of the Luo people.
World Tourism Day (WTD) is commemorated annually on September 27 to raise awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political, and economic value.
The theme for this year`s World Tourism Day (WTD) is; Tourism and Sustainable Transformation. It emphasizes the vital role of tourism in fostering inclusive growth while implementation practices that safeguard our environment, culture, and communities for future generations.
The global World Tourism Day 2025 will be held in Malaysia on September 27.
On September 27, 1970, the Charter of the World Tourism Organization (WTO) was adopted but it was until ten years later in 1980 that the date has been officially established and celebrated to mark the vital role played by the tourism sector in the economies of the world.
Data from the Ministry of Tourism shows that Tourism in Kenya is the third largest source of foreign exchange revenue, following diaspora remittances and agriculture.
Kenya is one of the world best tourist destination attracting millions of tourists globally. It is your preferred destination if you are seeking for an adventure that is a combination of colorful culture, world heritage sites, wildlife safaris, mountain climbing, and Bird watching and adventure holiday.
Kenya has over 55 national parks, game reserves and sanctuaries. Many who visit the country fall in love with the incredible beauty and have decided to stay permanently. Some of the types of tourism found in Kenya include; beach tourism, eco-tourism, cultural tourism, and sports tourism.
But sometimes this crucial sector has been faced with serious challenges, thanks to climate change.
In 2020, this sector was brought to its knees due to the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic as Kenya and the whole world literally locked up their borders to prevent the spread of the pandemic.
It’s also worth noting that Kenya is still recovering from a drought that ravaged parts of the country for five consecutive seasons with inadequate rain in 2021 and 2022, which severely affected people and animals, including livestock. This was followed hot on the heels by a devastating flood that ravaged the country also causing massive damage to wildlife and property and loss of lives.
But things are now looking up in the sector as the data from the Ministry of Tourism, show that tourist arrivals hit a new record high of the aforementioned figure of 2.09million in 2023, indicating a flourishing tourism industry in the country in the post covid era, thanks to the efforts the Government has been putting in marketing Kenya as a preferred destination for international travelers seeking to explore what our motherland has to offer.
The worst-affected ecosystems by the drought were home to some of Kenya’s most-visited national parks, reserves and conservancies, including the Amboseli, Tsavo and Laikipia – Samburu areas.
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) November 2022 reported that it had lost 205 jumbos which are endangered species, 512 wildebeests, 381 common zebras, 51 buffalos, 49 Gravy’s zebras and 12 giraffes in nine months of that year alone to the wrecking drought. Therefore, seeing the Tourism sector picking up is a big relief to all industry players.
It’s estimated that more than five million Kenyans were affected by the drought in more than 24 counties and more that 2.4 million livestock and wildlife killed by the drought. Some of these communities were then also affected by floods which came immediately after the drought.
