Taita Taveta to Conserve Tourism Sites and Promote Homestays...

Taita Taveta county government will partner with the National Museums of Kenya to reconstruct and conserve historical sites in the region.

Through the partnership, the county will conserve the Kenyatta Caves, Wray Museum, Kasigau Fort, Mwashuma Fort and Salaita Hill, which was the battlefield for World War One.

Speaking during celebrations to mark the World Tourism Day in Voi on Saturday, Governor John Mruttu said the Taita Taveta should diversify its tourism products.

"While recognising the traditional tourism products associated with wildlife, it is important to note that not all domestic and international tourists are attracted by those products and we must start offering other products that are unique to Taita Taveta county," he said.

Mruttu urged the national government to support the county in packaging and marketing its tourism products.

He asked residents to open up their homes for home-stay tourism.

"Very many visitors wish to have an opportunity to learn how we live, the foods we eat as well as our music and dances. Home-stay tourism gives them that opportunity and I am aware that there is a great interest in this tourism product," Mruttu said.

He said home-stay tourism will increase the county's capacity for visitors without putting up new tourist hotels.

The governor said it will allow for a speedy transfer of tourism revenues to wananchi.

Tourism secretary Anne Kinyua, Voi MP Jones Mlolwa, Brand Kenya CEO Mary Kimonye, Kenya Commission for Unesco secretary general Eva Njoka and Utalii College principal Kenneth Ombongi were at the function.

Kinyua asked county governments to set aside budgets for marketing their tourism products.

She said the national government will work with county governments to boost domestic tourism.

"Home-stay tourism is among the areas we will collaborate with counties to ensure our tourist numbers increase," Kinyua said

Source: http://www.the-star.co.ke/