About Us

The Kenya Community Based Tourism Network (KECOBAT) was launched in August 2003 as a membership umbrella organization representing the interest of Community Based Tourism (CBT) organizations in Kenya. It aims to facilitate information sharing; delivering appropriate technical support and advisory services; mediating and lobbying their interests to government and other relevant institutions and thereby integrating community concerns into national tourism.

KECOBAT Network can be regarded as a "trade association” representing the poorest sections of the tourism sector. By being the central point of contact, KECOBAT Network, links between these, often-inaccessible, communities with the government, the private sector, NGO's, donors, and training institutions thereby making it easier and less time consuming to work with.

KECOBAT Network aims to create a forum that afford communities grappling with tourism challenges work with one voice and purpose through empowering communities to mobilize their own capacities, learn from each other, effectively manage their resources and thereby make informed decisions to control activities that affect their lives and their environment. This will make them actors rather than passive subjects in the tourism industry.

The network wishes to actively create appropriate mechanisms and incentives to open-up opportunities for rural communities to enhance their participation in the tourism industry especially in planning and running of enterprises on their land

WHAT CONSTITUTES ITS MEMBERSHIP?

Community Based Tourism Enterprises (CBTE’s) in Kenya.

CORE PROBLEM:

Gain from tourism not commensurately accrued to the community

OBJECTIVES

·         Improving CBTE’s tourism knowledge and know-how,

·         Attracting capital investment

·         Enhancing and improving tourism products;

·         Improvement of service standard for CBTE’s Sector;

·         Creating greater market awareness;

·         Strengthening institutions and economic linkages for CBTE’s;

HOW THE ORGANIZATION IS FULFILLING THESE OBJECTIVES

• Networking communities to promote exchange of information and dissemination of the same;

• Lobbying and advocating for their interests to government and other institutions;

• Development, marketing and promotion of products and services;

• Certification of CBTI products and services;

• Capacity building and training.

WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE ORGANIZATION?

• Executive Director

• Project Coordinator

• Project Administrator

• Project Assistants

• Volunteers

Overall responsibility is with the Board of Directors

VISION:

An empowered community influencing policies and stimulating actions at all levels in tourism to maximize returns from conservation of natural and cultural resources.

MISSION:

To safeguard and advance the interests and rights enjoyed by communities, local people and informal sector over tourism resources by enhancing their participation, contributing to policy and stimulating positive actions geared towards betterment of their livelihoods

SLOGAN:

Enhancing livelihoods through tourism

CORE VALUES

• Community participation;
• Respect diversity and gender equity;
• We value quality;
• Networking and collaboration;
• Openness and honesty;
• Sustainable tourism intervention;
  
  

KECOBAT MANDATE:

To bring together communities involved in community based tourism initiatives (CBTI’s) in order to ensure that benefits are commensurately accrued from tourism.

PROGRAMMES:

• Advocacy and Education Programme for the Development of Guidelines for Community Natural Resource Based Business
• Accreditation guidelines and operation standards for homestays
• Capacity building for economic empowerment
• Market Access for enhanced visibility of CBT products in Kenya.
• Institutionalization of Central Reservation System for Promotion, Dissemination and Marketing of CBT Product and Services
• Fredkopset Norway(FK) facilitated employee exchange programme with Uganda Community Tourism Association (UCOTA)