KECOBAT celebrates Mara Day in Narok, Maasai Mara University...

This year’s Mara Day celebration was held in Narok at Maasai Mara University. The third Mara Day Celebrations were organized by Government of Kenya and coordinated by the Lake Victoria Basin Commission Secretariat; and supported by key Tanzanian partners, the LVBC Secretariat, USAID East Africa, and the private sector.

   


Mara Day is marked annually on September 15th every year on rotational basis between Kenya and Tanzania to coincide with one of the eight wonders of the World, Wildebeest migration.

Mara River plays a critical role played by the Mara Ecosystem in supporting the survival and productivity of the Lake Victoria Basin and the surrounding regions, home and source of livelihoods to millions of people across East Africa.

This year’s event was graced by Kenyan Deputy President, Hon. William Ruto. The event attracted visitors from far and wide from the Republic of Kenya and the United Republic of Tanzania who share the trans-boundary Mara/Serengeti Ecosystem. The theme of this year’s celebrations “Mara Forever – Mara Milele” properly conveyed the overall underlying message which is to protect and conserve the critical ecosystem for not only the current but also for the future generations.

 The organizers had lined up activities which included entertainment, sports, tree planting and exhibitions. There were over 30 exhibition stands that were fully taken up by a wide range of exhibitors who included like WWF, Government Ministries, agencies and departments; Non-Governmental Organizations; Community Based Organizations ; Donor funded projects like Lake Victoria Environmental Management Projects from both Kenya and Tanzania etc.

KECOBAT thanks the Ministry of East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism through the Directorate of Tourism for enable it participate and exhibit during the Mara Day Celebration.

To sum up activities of the day, there were deliveries of important messages from political leaders.

KECOBAT DEVELOPING CULTURAL TOURISM PRODUCT AND BRAND FOR KENYA...

KECOBAT in partnership with a number of competent agencies in Kenya and in the region are working on modalities of developing a Cultural Tourism Product and Brand for the country. The brand essence to be christened ‘‘Cultural Kenya’’ will be structured on “Authentic, Original, Pristine, African Brand values

While the Brands Emotional Benefits should conjure long lasting fond memories, African hospitality and evolution connectivity that should not shy away from repositioning Kenya as the ‘‘The Cradle of Mankind’’. The Branding should dovetail to existing tourism branding initiatives for Brand synergy.

The Cultural Tourism and Brand will adopt a Community Based Tourism approach in which case the community owns the product and are thus directly be involved in product designing, packaging, pricing, marketing, guiding and cultural interpretation. 

The benefits accrued from the cultural enterprises will be shared through a structured benefit sharing mechanism that stimulates wider participation and value for money that enables tourists to embrace and immerse themselves into local people’s way of life, their values systems etc.

The overall objective of the programme is to develop and promote cultural excursions, designed and operated by local people in their natural environment and thus using culture as a vehicle for unlocking opportunities for the poor through tourism. 

Direct revenue streams will accrue to cultural enterprise coordinators, tour guides, food service providers, handcraft makers (majority are women groups and youth), story tellers, traditional dancers, farmers, traditional healers, blacksmith and home-stay service providers just to mention a few.

Subscribe to our blog and monthly newsletter to follow-up on this project...

Households rake in millions from homestay tourists...

As tourism numbers decline, stakeholders are lobbying the government to promote cultural tourism to tap low-budget tourists segment. In June this year, East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism Cabinet Secretary Phyllis Kandie announced a 15% drop in the number of tourists who visited the county in 2013 compared to 2012. Kenya received 1.499 million tourists last year, down from 1.780 million in 2012.

Ms Kandie blamed the decrease on, among other factors, terrorism and travel advisories issue by leading source markets. The decline, she said, saw a drop in revenue collection, saying that last year the industry fetched Sh93.97 billion compared to Sh96.02 billion the previous year.

It is this gap that stakeholders hope cultural tourism will help fill and ensure the numbers remain constant, if not grow by tapping new niche markets. This model – known as homestay tourism – where tourists stay in homes and pay either through working for the host family or in cash, is fast taking root in the country. It has already created local millionaires while augmenting earnings from the tourism sector.

What started as an act of kindness when a Japanese family hosted Peter Ongera in their home when he was student in 1994 has led to a thriving business with almost no capital other than a good home and space. When Mr Ongera returned to Kenya, he received a request from the people who had hosted him: they were interested in visiting the country but wanted to stay in a home rather than a hotel. 

Mr Ongera, then still a student and whose home was 200 miles away from the university, took the guest to his lecturer’s house. Mr Tokito Saburo, one of the guests paid $5 (Sh450) per day and when he went back home, he sent nine other clients.

He had to look for homes in Nairobi. He found friends who were willing to host them. The guests would pay him and the hosts as well. The number increased to 20 Japanese in 1995 and in the following year, after travelling to Canada, he hosted 22 Canadians. He assists about 50 foreigners and Kenyans a month in his homestay business. This is how African Home Stays and Safaris was born, with Mr Ongera as director.

The average period of hosting a visitor is four months, but some have stayed for over a year. In the process both the host and the guest get to know each other’s culture in a shorter and informative way and also create an invaluable networks. 

Also called cultural tourism, the programme can be regarded as pro-poor self-employment because even the poor have a chance of hosting a guest and making money while at it. Volunteers, researchers, students and low-budget tourists for the majority who use this model. 

Mr Ongera feels he is an achiever. He said that “during the World Social Forum held in Nairobi in January, I had 1,500 bookings and raked in over US$100,000 in 10 days. On average clients under the programme pay a minimum $10 a day to the host. This daily charge can’t buy a baby’s meal in five-star hotels where food costs many times over the retail price.”

He earns 20 percent from the assistance he gives to the visitor and host. This amount is deducted from the host who would have registered with his company. Mr Ongera added: “It’s one of the best ways of learning someone’s culture because you eat what they eat, sleep where they sleep; enjoy their whole lifestyle.”

During the period of the stay, the guest becomes part of the home. He or she can cook, wash, take care of animals among other house chores, play around and just do everything the host can do while still doing the core function that led to the travel. When tourists apply for a visit, specifying the kind of experience they want, African Homestay looks for a host and organises security and logistic arrangements.

Locals who have registered with the company get first priority. It costs Sh2,500 for individuals and Sh3,500 for institutions. The bank details are included on the website and so when sending the applications, interested parties attach their bank slips.

The costs incurred by the tourists vary depending on the specific location, period of stay and the package requested. For instance, a tourist who wants cooked food pays slightly more than one who wants to learn how to cook and do it during his or her stay. Mr Ongera, however, said that $50 per day is the average cost. 

According to the World Tourism Organisation, cultural tourism accounts for 5% of global tourism and grows at a 30-40% rate annually. Tourism expert Sharon Green says “home stays are unique in many ways. Economically locals are directly paid by the tourists unlike when the tourists pay industry players who are mainly foreign-owned (whose taxes to government are not used to improve the lives of those living in tourist resorts).”

African Homestays and Safaris is registered with the Kenya Community Based Tourism (KECOBAT), which has a membership of over 100 organisations. They receive about 3,000 guests in a month. Depending on the length of stay, Mr Ongera makes an average of $600 in a month from this venture.

In February 2007, African Home Stays was chosen among other social enterprises in Africa by the Queens University Management School on a Trickle Out Project (TOP). TOP was a research project funded by the United Kingdom (UK) Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) examining social enterprises and environmental enterprises in Eastern and Southern Africa. The project considers the role and potential contribution of such enterprises to sustainable development and poverty alleviation.

The report of the project is yet to be released but Mr Ongera is happy that his business was picked among many other social enterprises across Africa. Seven social and environmental enterprises from Kenya were chosen out of 21 companies. Other countries in the study were Zambia, Mozambique and South Africa.

 In conducting the study Dr Diane Holt, the principal investigator, remarked that, “We hope that in some small way the TOA project will help showcase the innovative, home- grown, truly transformative business models that form the bedrock of modern Kenya and other countries in Eastern and Southern Africa.”

Source: http://nairobibusinessmonthly.com/

Kenyan President vows to fix security challenges to spur tourism...

5th Sep, 2014 MOMBASA, Kenya,– Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Saturday promised to deal with security challenges at the coastal city of Mombasa to promote tourism.

Speaking in Mombasa, Kenyatta assured tourists and locals that visiting coast beaches safety was guaranteed.

The country’s tourism suffered a decline in the number of tourists arriving since September 2011 when the Somali militant group, the Al-Shabaab, carried out the kidnappings of tourists in the Lamu archipelago and the kidnapping of the Spanish volunteers.

Kenya has witnessed several hit-and-run grenade attacks in recent months in the capital, Nairobi, and in northern Kenya and Mombasa port city, including the recent killing of more than 95 people in the coastal region in June and July.

The country’s international tourist arrivals for 2013 declined by 15.8 percent to 1.49 million from 1.78 million in 2012. The drop in foreign tourists is largely attributed to increased terrorist attacks that have hit the country.

Source: guulonline.net

KECOBAT SEMINAR FEEDBACK...

Dear reader, KECOBAT always appreciates your feedback, criticism and general comment on how we deal with communities and the best way forward of making Kenya a first world destination in tourism.

Community tourism is always the best approach to diversify tourism and open up potential areas for tourism purposes across the nation.

One of the participants in one of the always ongoing sensitization programmes sent us a feedback and appreciated our efforts together with the Directorate of Tourism in promoting CBT.

Below is a copy of one of the unedited mails sent to KECOBAT:

Dear KECOBAT,

I am happy and deeply informed, after attending the seminar organized by KECOBAT on Tourism and home stays.

I am thankful to KECOBAT through relevant ministry to come up with the idea of Home stay for several reasons: 

1. This home stay program will make the world globe to be a village.
2. Will help different people from diversified cultures be able to appreciate one another’s existence.
3. Will help the local people be informed and educated to get out their cacoons.
4. It will have economical uplifting as they receive from the tourists payments for their expenses.
5. This is education to be appreciated and acquired
6. There is quite a lot people will gain from each community. 

As for the seminar personally, I was enlightened of many things. The organization was excellent. The presentation of the material by various facilitators was wonderful and clear that nobody could sleep off during the seminar.

The food provided was very good. In short all was good and worthy participation Kindly set up another seminar and let us visit sites in western that could be of tourists attraction.

Thanks

Canon Enoch Nandokha

enoch nandokha [enochnandokha@yahoo.com]

Kshs. 900m set aside in drive to increase Kenya's tourist arrivals...

The Tourism ministry has earmarked Sh900 million for revamping the ailing sector.

Tourism Cabinet Secretary Phyllis Kandie said part of the funds will be used for global marketing and branding campaigns aimed at improving the country’s image in key tourist source markets in Europe and the US to boost international arrivals.

She noted that the campaigns will help counter negative publicity which has portrayed Kenya as an unsafe destination following terror attacks in Mombasa and Lamu counties some months ago.

Remaining funds, Mrs Kandie added, will be spent on reassurance drives in the UK, US, Germany, Italy and France to win back the confidence of European holidaymakers.

The minister said the tourism recovery plan comes at an opportune time when calm has returned at the Coast which is the centrepiece of tourism in the country.

Tourism Cabinet Secretary Phyllis Kandie holding talks with American tour operators in 
New York. The Tourism ministry has earmarked Sh900 million for revamping the ailing sector.

Mrs Kandie said the ministry, which oversees the tourism recovery plan, will also roll out familiarization tours for leading international travel agents and media to help portray a positive image of the country.

RECOVERY PLAN

“In order to revive the tourism sector, the government this financial year has set aside Sh900 million for the implementation of the tourism recovery plan,” she said.

“We aim to reassure potential holidaymakers from our traditional source markets and the emerging markets that Kenya is safe.”

The CS said the government had stepped up security in all the tourist destinations across the country to protect visitors.

In an interview with the Nation at Voyager Hotel in Mombasa, Mrs Kandie called on tourism stakeholders and the public to support the government’s efforts to sustain the calm enjoyed in the country.

On Monday, the minister said the government would seek a review of the travel advisories which were issued by some Western countries to help revamp the industry.

Meanwhile, Kenya Tourism Board managing director Muriithi Ndegwa said the government this financial year has allocated more than Sh600 million for the board’s operations and marketing.

He said part of the funds will be used for marketing campaigns in both traditional and emerging tourist markets to woo more holidaymakers.

The board, Mr Ndegwa said, will from October 8-10 hold the Magical Kenya Travel Expo in Nairobi as part of efforts to attract more international tourists.

Source: http://www.nation.co.ke/

KECOBAT to represent Community Based Tourism Enterprises during this year’s Magical Kenya Travel Expo

Magical Kenya Travel Expo is a re-leading annual event in the African Region organized by Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) that hosts overseas source markets that brings together, travel agents, tour operators and hoteliers. It gathers all the tour operators, travel agents, and destination managers. It is a unique opportunity for the tourism business operators to meet their clients, network, market and discuss business.

The Magical Kenya Travel Expo (MKTE) is one of the fastest growing exhibitions in the tourism industry aimed at raising the profile of Kenya’s destination. It has become an important and influential platform for tourism networking and business transactions.

The exhibition aims at showcasing Kenya as a world class tourism destination to top notch international trade. It is a key pillar of the Board’s marketing strategies aimed at increasing the tourist arrival numbers and tourism revenue receipts in line with Vision 2030.

KTB will be hosting the fourth edition of Magical Kenya Travel Expo scheduled for the 8^th - 10^th October, 2014. The event is dubbed “Recovery: Getting Kenya’s Tourism Back On Track”. The event will be held at Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).

As an umbrella organization of Community Based Tourism Enterprises in the country, Kenya Community Based Tourism Network (KECOBAT) will be exhibiting at the event. KECOBAT will represent hundreds of Community Based Tourism Enterprises who are often the key to tourism diversification in the country. The institution has spearheaded a number of products including Homestays development, agro-tourism and cultural tourism in Kenya.

As part of the EXPO various speakers will grace MKTE seminars with topics which will touch subjects on crisis management, market diversification, capitalizing on social media, sustainability, domestic tourism, research, brand and product development. 

The seminars will be conducted on Tuesday, 7^th of October 2014, from 8.30 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Aberdare/Lenana Conference Rooms.

For more information visit MKTE site

Kenya's Cabinet Secretary Phyllis Kandie Recognizes and Applauds KECOBAT’s work on Community Based Tourism

KECOBAT today received recognition and applause from Kenya’s East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism Cabinet Secretary, Mrs Phyllis Kandie. On her official twitter handle, @Tourism_KE, the Cabinet Secretary appreciated the excellent work the organization has been doing to promote Community Based Tourism in Kenya.

She was impressed by the unrelenting work KECOBAT was doing to diversify tourism. In addition, CS wanted to know the response of Kenyans towards the development of Community Based Tourism in the country. KECOBAT responded that, according to their findings, Kenyans were very receptive and positive though the growth and development was often donor dependant. KECOBAT also mentioned that the defunct Tourism Trust Fund (TTF) played a major role and contributed phenomenally in the development of a number of Community Based Tourism Enterprises in Kenya.

On a following different tweet, Mrs. Kandie encouraged the organization to keep up the good work and urged them to continue informing Kenyans on ways to appreciate CBT and further educate them on benefits of CBT. She added that through this, the government, private sectors players would work together with an aim of enhancing livelihoods through tourism. This is what KECOBAT has stood for since it was launched in 2003.

The government is looking forward towards diversifying tourism in the wake of the tourism slump at the Kenyan coast due to the recent past insecurity attacks. Together with the Directorate of Tourism, KECOBAT has spearheaded the development of homestays one of the niche products that makes Community Tourism. Through its hard work, KECOBAT developed Criteria and Guidelines for Homestays in Kenya, a document that is currently owed by the government who went ahead to publish it for Homestays Operators.

In this year’s World Tourism Day Celebration, the organization has partnered with the Ministry of Tourism and other institutions in the tourism sector to celebrate the event on 27^th of this month. This year’s WTD theme is ‘Tourism and Community Development.’

Welcome to Queenspark Homestay (Nyeri) - Your Gateway to Authentic Experience...

Queenspark Homestay is tastefully furnished house located in the leafy suburbs of Outspan in Nyeri town, about 60m off Baden Powell Road. It borders the Outspan Hotel and Hospital and is about 1.5 Km from town centre. It sits on a 33m X 33m land which has a masonry perimeter wall with metal spikes on top just to enhance security though the area is very secure.

Sample of an ensuite single beds room  -
in total -7 – one with balcony
facing Mt. Kenya

Accommodation services comprises of 8 en suite rooms, a lounge area for 12 and a spacious dining room. All rooms are fitted with wardrobes and reading tables.  It has a neatly kept lawn for visitors. Queenspark also has a one bedroom SQ in the compound which has parking area for 6 cars. Two rooms have balcony where one views the beauty of the snowcapped Mt. Kenya as you enjoy the morning sunshine.

Apart from the opportunity for the guests to visit Mt. Kenya and Aberdares National Parks, they can also be driven to Dedan Kimathi University animal sanctuary, as it only 5 Kms away along Nyeri- Nyahururu road to have a nature walk and view the rare species of wildlife conserved.

Further, the family here practice sheep/goat farming in Ngobit, Laikipia County, and you will taken to enjoy Nyama choma in the bush which is very secure as the home is only 2 Km away from Ngibit Police Station and the homestead is fence with chain link. 

The visitors can also visit the Treetops Hotel where the Queen Elizabeth slept the night she was enthroned after her father’s death, Lt. col. Baden Powell graves in nyeri town among many other tourist sites.

The Queenspark Homestay is run by the family who are always available to the guests’ service.

For More Information Contact:

Francis on mobile:       +254 724 757 637

Mary on mobile:          +254 722 333 732

OR

Kenya Community Based Tourism Network

Tel: +254 202 319 458

Mobile: +254 720 546 457

Email: info@kecobat.org , homestays@kecobat.org

SCROLL DOWN FOR MORE PHOTOS

Showing part of perimeter wall and a lawn...

Front view of the house 

View of the house showing part of the lawn.

Lounge area with a capacity of 11 persons 

Double ensuite bed room with balcony
facing Mt. Kenya – This is only one

A sample of a spacious bathrooms fixed with hot shower

COMMUNITY BASED TOURISM IS THE WAY TO GO – DOMINICA MINISTER

Dominica: The Honorable Minister for Tourism, Ian Douglas continues to advocate for community tourism as the way forward for the tourism industry in Dominica.

During his address to support the 2014/2015 budget, Minister Douglas emphasized that communities should take advantage of the Waitikubuli National Trail and use community tourism as a means of generating more jobs in rural Dominica.

Douglas also believes that a link between agriculture and tourism can be forged to foster growth and sustainability in both industries.

“We believe that the tourism industry can work side by side with the agriculture industry to revitalize and help sustain this industry. From statistics we know that a large percentage of the produce generated from the agriculture industry finds its way into the tourism industry from fish to fresh fruits to vegetables. In fact most of the tourists that come to Dominica that is the experience they enjoy the most.”

All this, he says will improve the overall visitor experience on the island while growing the economy.

In Kenya, KECOBAT, an umbrella membership organization for Community Based Tourism Enterprises has been at the forefront to promote the four niche products that fall under community based tourism. These are Homestays, Agro-tourism, Culture and Heritage. You can get more of these by visiting our website, homestays site and our blog page.

Also, you can follow us on our twitter and facebook page. 

KECOBAT is also the current custodian of Domestic Tourism Kenya page and group. 

Adapted from the Government Information Service - Dominica

KECOBAT Initiates Affiliate Programmes...

Nairobi, Kenya – Kenya Community Based Tourism Network (KECOBAT) a membership umbrella organization for CBT, has initiated affiliate programs.

KECOBAT promotes the development of Community Based Tourism Enterprises in the country by developing Homestays, Agro-tourism and Cultural Heritage.

On its official website www.kecobat.org the organization states its key objectives of acting as the voice of the locals involved in the tourism sector. With current travel being more experiential and leisure based, KECOBAT has become one of the leading institutions to promote these niche products in attempt to help the country diversify its tourism for wider consumption.

The institution spearheaded the development of homestays criteria, a document that is now owned by the government and is in force as guideline for homestays operators. Download the criteria here.

The homestays website www.homestayskenya.org that was developed by KECOBAT is a first time basic site to host and market homestays operators in Kenya. The site is, however, being restructured to allow online reservation for these homestay operators to guests.  

The websites promotes homestay accommodations to their customers, allowing their visitors and community members to explore the idea of staying in one of over 1,650 host-present accommodations currently in the database.

Homestays are an increasingly popular lodging option for consumers of all ages who want a more personalized, immersive and authentic travel experience. By connecting guests with hosts that share their interests and accommodations that fit their needs, KECOBAT has become the leading marketplace for host-present accommodations, a fast growing travel segment.

It is continuously seeking to partner and network with other international institutions with a need to integrate options to help maximize earning potential, ranging from direct tracked online links from a selection of banners and buttons right through to more seamless website solutions.

KECOBAT has put in place offers of highly competitive commission structures, allowing home owners to earn commissions on a cost-per-sale basis. The affiliate programs are currently free to join, no application or setup fees or ongoing costs. With the coming in the newly formed Tourism Regulatory Authority, and the government through the Directorate of Tourism, KECOBAT is looking forward to a successful and sustainable development of these programmes in Kenya.

The homestay market is a rapidly growing and exciting space. It has evolved well beyond its primarily educational origins, with a majority of guests travelling for leisure today. Business travel is up significantly as well, and the typical age of guests reflects these changes. There is currently significant growth in guests over the age of 29 in the past year as the appeal of a less expensive, personal and unique experience becomes clear.

KECOBAT is also significantly looking at creating experience in building and managing relationships to maximize sales and revenue opportunities both for the government and home owners.

We view partnerships as an integral way to showcase and promote these unique travel products. Therefore, the development of this program will bring in tour operators, guides, the locals, private sector players, government institutions and all other bodies that will make it a success.

Today’s visitors travel with the main aim of getting to engage in a more personal local experience with an end result of getting more value for their money.

Following the Kenyan State Tourism Diversification, MTDC now asks villagers to turn houses into homestays...

Homestays is swiftly taking root in Kenya’s tourism sector. The government through directorate of tourism and a number of tourism institutions have appreciated the development of homestays concept in the country and are now promoting it to add some revenue to home owners. Kenya Community Based Tourism Network, one such organization has been developing the same after it introduced the concept to the government of Kenya in 2006. KECOBAT has now captured in its database over 1,650 and profiled over 200 homestays in Kenya.

In attempt to also promote homestays, the Indian government through Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) has also started homestays initiatives. The corporation has been urging villagers to turn their houses into homestay in order to get extra income from such enterprises. Additionally, MTDC has been at the forefront of training villagers to be eco-guides.

Vitthal Kirdat is one such villager who runs a food stall during the year, but has now been supported by a forest department and MTDC to initiate the concept of home stay. He has also made arrangements in two rooms with four beds each for a weekend stay. Kirdat has set up a website http://www.kaspatharholiday.com to help maximize on homestays.

Vaishali Chavan, the regional manager of MTDC, Pune, pointed out that due to the delay in the flowering activity, the rush of tourists was yet to begin. “We have been encouraging villagers to set aside extra rooms and offer beds and breakfast at their homes,” she said.

Homestay is an eco-tourism initiative and the economic benefits will be circulated in the village. This would ensure that not only Joint Forest Management Committee (JFMC) members were benefited through tourism on Kas but also the villagers.

More info from The Indian Express…http://indianexpress.com/

State seeking to diversify tourism through niche products...

Government agencies are seeking ways to diversify tourism to increase revenue sources. This comes in the wake of a dwindling tourism sector enhanced by the past recent insecurity issues in the Kenyan coastal region.

A detailed report progress report issued in June by the Vision 2030 Delivery Secretariat shows that the initiative is aimed at introducing new high value products such as cultural tourism, homestays, agro-tourism, eco-sports and water based tourism.

The initiative of promoting the niche products is being promoted by the Ministry of East African Affairs Commerce and Tourism.

Agro-tourism Strategy

Culture and Heritage Strategy

The report that was forwarded to to parliament adds that cultural and heritage tourism strategy and agrotourism strategy have been developed. Kenya Community Based Tourism Network together with the Ministry and other tourism stakeholders played a key role in developing the two strategies. Hard copies of the two strategies can be picked from the Directorate of Tourism at Utalii House, Nairobi.

It has also been well put in the report that criteria for homestays has been developed. KECOBAT developed this criteria and guidelines for homestays in the country in 2009 and was later validated by the government at Bomas of Kenya in November 2010. It is out of this criteria that KECOBAT has profiled and accredited over 200 Homestays Operators in Kenya. Please note that licenses are only issued by the newly formed Tourism Regulatory Authority which is yet to issue these operators with licenses.

Please download the approved criteria here...

You can also download Culture and Heritage Strategic Plan, and Youth and Sports Strategic Plan.

To enhance the homestays concept, the homestays mapping and capture form was validated by the government after being developed by KECOBAT for data base creation. KECOBAT has over 1,650 Homestays Operators captured in this database.  The number include potential operators.

 

Criteria for Homestays

Youth and Sports Strategy

State Embraces home-stays Concept

By John Oyuke

Kenya’s tourism offerings might be shifting from the traditional high cost hotel or lodge, white beach and game drive experience to the warmth of a domesticated, cozy and personalised environment.

In the next three months, the Government will officially launch a new tourism concept known as “Home-stays” to provide pocket friendly and secure accommodation option for today’s adventure seeking tourists.

According to Tourism Minister, Dan Mwazo, the concept will not only bridge the gap of quality accommodation as envisaged in the Vision 2030 blueprint, but will also provide a unique chance for visitors to immerse themselves into the rich and diverse cultural exchange, and catalyse the rural economy.

He said the unique hospitality system developed by the ministry in which a tourist stays with a family would help diversify tourism products, as well as equip tourists with the knowledge of the hosts’ way of life such as agricultural system, folk arts sculptures, sports and cuisine.

Though the concept has not yet picked up in Kenya, a Kenya Tourist Board (KTB) official says it will provide unique opportunities now that the body has developed criteria to identify and guide the standards of promoting home-stays.

The official says the drive towards home-stays is driven by need to raise bed capacity from 40,000 to about 65,000 by this year, as envisaged under the Vision 2030.

High cost

“This is to be achieved by identifying the niche product by providing 3,000 beds of high cost accommodation for the tourists interested in the cultural and eco- tourism as well as sports activities, among other ways,” he added.

The ministry is already undertaking an inventory to identify suitable places for home-stays/cultural homes in the country, and targets to register 1,000 homes as home-stays before the end of the year.

According to a ministry of tourism criteria of home-stays seen by The standard, identification of Home-stay units will be carried out by the Ministry, in collaboration with the Kenya Community-Based Tourism Network in order to accredit, approve, license the Home-stays based on the facilities and quality of the accommodation provided.

These units will also be classified as either community home-stays, farm stays and modern urban private homes, and grading into classes following five broad criteria.

The five standards are based on the location and accessibility of the house, premises quality in terms of facilities and amenities for offering to tourists, hygiene and sanitation, safety and security, and general services.

The facilities will be classified into three levels of quality namely, Economy, Standard and Executive attaching clear guidelines on the expected minimum standards.

Home-stay units fulfilling all the minimum essential conditions prescribed under the set standards will be issued certificate of approval and accorded license status to receive and accommodate guests.

The ministry says priority for registration and licensing will be only for operational Home-stays. Once the home stay operator applies for registration, it has to be ready for inspection by the government officials.

Recommended licence fees for the licenses valid for a period of one year from the date of issue is Sh1,000 for economy level Home-stays. Sh2,000 for standard level Home-stays, and Sh3,000 for Executive Level Home-stays.

The move by the ministry comes after tourism businesses said tourists prefer renting a private home, particularly at the Coast, as opposed to staying in a hotel stay.

They attribute dipping in hotel occupancy to the rising demand for relatively cheaper self-catering accommodation. A number of tourists are seeking out self-catering homes rather than large and expensive beach hotels.

A government Vision 2030 progress said that the country has run out of bed space and would face a serious accommodation crisis were it to host a major international conference. The report covering years 2010 and 2011 says the country has surpassed its targeted bed capacity as at last year and unless more investors put up hotel and accommodation facilities, there may not be need for Kenya to attract more tourists.

According to a Kenyan Association of Hotel Keepers and Caterers (KAHCC) official, Ms Leah Ng’ang’a, the organisation does not see adoption of the Home-stay tourism concept by the ministry as a threat to its members.

“In fact we had been working with the ministry to fine tune the idea because as for us it means giving all cadre of tourist the best type and affordable mode of accommodation available,” she told Business Weekly last week.

Ng’ang’a, an Administration Officer at the representative body that brings together duly registered hotels, lodges and camps operating in Kenya said Home stays would provide a  first-hand experience for tourists.

“The concept will enable tourists to enjoy the rural life, the ethnic cuisine and local culture of the country while at the same time spreading benefits of tourism to the local communities,” she pointed out.

Under the new concept, every county will have 100 Home-stays, licensed by the ministry of tourism as part of efforts by the government to empower rural folks, who have been viewing tourism sector as meant for the elites.

Besides diversification from the traditional safari to beach tourism, Mwazo has also announced that the ministry plans to restructure Kenya Tourism Board would be restructured to create posts of Brand managers.

According Mwazo, the purpose of the Brand managers would be to come up with new products and market them to the ever changing travel trends, which he said were becoming more about experiential holidays.

“Sports, film, medical, education and cultural tourism will form the new components of products to be developed in the near future, he added

Standard Newspaper: 

http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/article/2000062437/state-embraces-home-stays-as-bed-space-dwindles?pageNo=1