Kenya Tourism Week / World Tourism Day 2014 Celebration - Pictorials

Voi Kenya: Sept 26 – Kenya Community Based Tourism Network joined the rest of the world in celebrating this year’s World Tourism Day Celebration. This year's event is being held in Taita Taveta County, Voi and Wundanyi towns.

Developing community based tourism is expected to help local residents improve their living standards and promote their cultural values.

"Tourism and Community Development" is the theme of this year's event, which is observed annually on Sept 27. This new trend demonstrates the need to diversify tourism through promoting Community Based Tourism Enterprises, an initiative that is in line with the goals of the United Nations.

Kenya’s Tourism Secretary Dr. Nyagah said that the country valued community efforts in driving the tourism industry. Local residents from the county have become actively involved in the field, especially in homestays development; a concept being driven by KECOBAT.

In the near future, the tourism sector will help locals diversify their tourism services and draw in more visitors and with this, the country would be able to take the lead in community based tourism.

World Tourism Day is an occasion for Kenya to show off its potential in developing community based tourism in a sustainable manner that enhances livelihoods through tourism.