Children enjoying at the wild water beach hotel in Nyali, Mombasa. Mombasa County government has been challenged to maintain a clean environment at the beaches. [Photo|Maxwell]
The Mombasa County government and other environmental stakeholders in the county have been challenged to work on cleanliness programmes on the beaches to attract more visitors.
The Kenya-Coast Tourist Association-KCTA CEO Julius Owino said that the beaches may remain dirty especially after being flooded by holidaymakers this festive season and it is time the county government initiates proper long-term strategies to ensure the beaches remain clean throughout the year.
Owino said that it is evident the Mombasa and other parts of the region are experiencing almost 100 percent of tourists both foreign and domestic and they the county government along the Indian Ocean should immediately initiate environmental programs to maintain beach cleanliness.
Speaking in Mombasa on Tuesday, Owino said that the Kenya-Coast Tourist Association was very keen on monitoring the cleanliness on the beaches since it is the major way of attracting tourist all over the world.
He said it is through such beautiful and clean scene at the beaches that is when tourist when going back to their countries they would sell Kenyan Coast and urge others to come.
“Many holidaymakers will carry foodstuff, water and other soft drinks bottles while visiting the beaches but later drop them right there after they leave,” he said.
He said with proper plans and environmental programs, the Coast region and especially Mombasa County would maintain the beaches for anyone to visit and enjoy.
Owino who also manages the Coast Tourist Information Center based in Mombasa said that in an expected roundtable meeting with the Mombasa governor Ali Hassan Joho and other tourist stakeholders early next year, such issues will be deliberated and proper programs initiated.
“We have appealed to the County government of Mombasa to plan tourist stakeholders meeting early next year so that we deliberate on how we can make our beaches more attractive to the globe,” he added.
Meanwhile, Owino has expressed optimism with the increased number of both foreign and domestic tourist in the Coast region saying that domestic tourism will stabilise the tourist sector even during low seasons from mid-January to April and after the Easter holidays as well.
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