The National Assembly has launched a probe into the state of Kenya’s beaches, which are considered one of the country’s main tourism products.
The Departmental Committee on Tourism and Wildlife will conduct the probe after Likuyani MP Innocent Mugabe requested a statement from the chairperson Kareke Mbiuki saying Kenya’s beaches had become less competitive tourism products in the market.
Mugabe noted that beach tourism is the main social economic activity and source of livelihood for the coastal people.
“However, the beaches have become a tired and less competitive product in today's marketplace. In the last two decades, Kenyan beaches have been invaded by aggressive, local and informal operators. They engage in a variety of tourism-related businesses—both regulated and unregulated—and harass visitors,” he said.
Mugabe added that the situation at the beaches has hurt the beach tourism industry in Kenya.
“Moreover, this has led to increased insecurity, poor waste management that threatens marine parks and beach ecology, lack of necessary infrastructure at the beaches and increased conflict among beach users,” he said.
Mugabe added that the issues have contributed to making Kenyan beaches unattractive and uncompetitive, resulting in significant economic losses to the coastal counties and the national Exchequer.
“The coastal and inland tourism sectors, which rely on the, face stiff competition from other more attractive beach destinations around the globe. It is for this reason that I request a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Tourism and Wildlife,” he explained.
Mugabe wants the committee to state the plans that the Ministry of Tourism has put in place to protect, rehabilitate and promote beach tourism in Kenya.
He further wants the committee to inform the House whether there are sustainable management programmes that the Ministry has initiated to protect the environment and contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation measures.
He also wants to House to be told if there are any specific policy and legislative proposals that the Ministry has developed to guide beach management in Kenya.