The Parliamentary Committee on Tourism, Sports, and Culture wants the National Government to increase the allocation of funds to the Ministry of tourism to promote the sector.
The Committee Chair Dr. Victor Munyaka said tourism Ministry last year got an allocation of sh. 4.5 billion despite the fact that it contributed to revenue of more than Sh. 120 billion.
Dr. Munyaka said they will lobby to ensure the funds increase and ensure even the Kenya Airports Authority Unlocks more than Sh. 6 billion deducted from both domestic and International tourists.
Normally there is Sh. 100 deducted from every domestic ticket departure tax and 10 dollars for every international ticket which is supposed to be given to the Ministry for promotion purposes.
However, the committee learned from The Tourism Principal Secretary (PS) Fatuma Hersi Mohamed that the money was collected but legislation is not yet done.
Hersi also told the committee that the funds are supposed to be channeled to the Tourism transformation fund which is aimed at transforming the sector
Speaking during an induction course for the Tourism, sports and culture committee which is new at the Dream of Africa resort in Malindi on Thursday Munyaka said once the ministry is well facilitated with better funding it will bring in more revenue to the country.
“The Ministry has been underfunded in the past, the committee will lobby for more funding to enable it to promote tourism, the funds they receive is low compared to the revenue they bring,’’ he said.
During the induction that brought on board about 12 MPs and Chief Executive officers, Tourism PS said there was also need to change the tourism act of 2011.