Kisumu Deputy Governor, Dr. Mathews Owili speaking during a press briefing held at Kisumu Impala Sanctuary Park. This was to market the abundant Tourism facilities and attractions in the Western Kenya Region. [
Photo: Roberto Muyela]
Two arts and theater centers are set to be constructed in Kisumu County after the devolved unit received support from the Ford Foundation and UN Habitat.
Kisumu Deputy Governor Mathews Owili said the two hubs are envisaged to tap into the rich cultural heritage of the Luo community besides also attracting tourists to the lake side county.
Once completed, Owili said, the centers shall be fortified with state of the art equipment to support theater, arts and music.
County government, he revealed, shall allocate funds in the 2018-2019 budget to build a third arts and theatre complex.
Owili said the centers shall support arts, culture, theatre and heritage up to sub county level at the same time market Kisumu as the local destination of choice.
Speaking during a media launch of the impending United Nations World Tourism Day, Owili said, the county government shall institute measures towards promoting Kisumu as a film making destination which is envisioned to put the county on the world map.
Mr. Dedan Olao, the Lake Victoria Tourism Association Chairman said Kisumu has a lot of untapped potential in tourism calling for partnership between stakeholders and the county government to support it as a destination of choice.
The County, he said has more than 300 hotels with capacity to accommodate over 10, 000 guests at a go but the amenities are largely underutilized.
He confided that the tourism sector has recorded losses after the contested August 8th elections expressing optimism that the condition shall stabilize after the repeat elections.
The United Nations World Tourism Day festivities shall be held at the Kisumu Museum on 27th September 2017.