Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya, his Deputy Fatuma Achani joined Principal Secretary State Department of Tourism Joe Okudo and other leaders from the Coast region in hosting Coast Tourism Stakeholders Summit at (Neptune Hotel) in Diani.
Organised by the Ministry of Tourism Kenya, the summit comes at a time when tourism in the region is undergoing changing dynamics both in the source markets and the destination that will impact the direction of tourism at the Coast and in Kenya at large.
In line with this, PS Okudo said the Ministry has taken a proactive approach in developing the Kenya Tourism Blueprint 2030, which is anchored on four pillars;
- Product development strategy
- Marketing Strategy
- Investment Strategy
- Tourism Infrastructure strategy
Overall goals of the summit is to collaboratively deliberate on how to move Kenya Swahili Coast, forward with focus on;
1. Enhancing Kenya's competitive positioning in the global tourism market through a strong destination brand and delivery of an authentic and exceptional Kenyan travel experience.
2. Enhancing the contribution of tourism to a vibrant and sustainable economy in Kenya and specifically at the Coast.
In his speech Salim Mvurya said that since the inception of devolution in 2013 his administration has been working tirelessly in revamping the tourism sector in Kwale, a noble course that has seen Diani Beach being voted five times in a row as the best beach destination in Africa.
"My administration has made milestones in improving infrastructure that will see sites that promote and attract tourism improved for the better in terms of taste and investment opportunities in the sector," said Governor Mvurya on Thursday.
The milestones are; putting up a 10km street lights stretch along the Diani beach road which has beefed up security, the County government has employed beach operators who do a close supervision to tourists and act as life savers, tarmacking of the Samburu Kinango road that will reduce cases of vehicles congestion at the ferry and ease access of Tsavo National park from Ukunda.
Others include expansion of Ukunda airstrip to accommodate enough airlines to welcome more tourists in the region, phase one completion of the Dongo Kundu road and improvement of the Chale Marine park.
However, the summit is an opportunity to leverage the transformative agenda by scaling up and broadening the stakeholders engagement in transforming the Kenya Coast destination.
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