Effects of having Breakfast at State House John Onyando Even though the media is reporting Uhurus plan to promote tourism as radical, in reality every element of the plan is a non-starter. Either the specific steps are outright unworkable or their benefits are too little and unworthy of a presidents determined focus, unless of course he has no clue what it takes to govern the country- which I believe is the case. Lets start with the plan to give 25,000 employed Kenyans fully paid up holidays at tourist hotels. Leaving out questions as to which companies will participate, how they will identify the employees and places to visit, and even under what budget lines the holidays will be financed, there are other important factors a policy-maker ought to have considered. First, if indeed some tourist sites are being targeted by terrorists, our own people should be protected too. Kenyans are not bomb-proof; many of them have died in attacks from Mombasa to Nairobi. Uhurus statement outlining his new plan mentioned security only once, in reference to the fact that tourist arrivals have been declining since last year due to the security breakdown. He didnt give a single indication as to how this original problem is being tackled. Second, Kenyans, however rich, cannot supplant the contribution of foreign tourists to this country. In Kenya tourism is an export. Tourists bring foreign money which helps stabilize our own currency. Since Kenya is a net importer of goods and services, a substantial reduction in foreign revenues will weaken the shilling and drive up cost of imports, even if hotels were full with local holiday makers. Third, foreign tourists bring much more than hotel bookings. They use airlines to Kenya, which makes flying here profitable, in turn boosting other sectors in international trade. They also use taxis, buy curio gifts, go to game parks and spend on other items for which not many Kenyans can pay handsomely. Fourth, tourism is an important way for Kenyans to make people-to-people contacts with other global citizens. Its promotes not just business but cultural exchange as well. Tourists dont represent their governments. Even as Uhuru insults foreign leaders, he should have kind words for people from those countries who might want to visit Kenya.
Posted on: Sat, 24 May 2014 03:43:35 +0000