KECOBAT participates in Kirinyaga County Tourism Sites Documentation...

The overall objective of the three days in Kirinyaga County was documentation of Community Based Tourism projects.The participants included: Ministry of East African Affairs Commerce and Tourism represented by Assistant Director, Mrs.  Keziah Odemba together with Tourist Officer Mrs. Lornah Nyamweya, two staff representatives from Kenya Community Based Tourism Network (KECOBAT), 17 Miss Tourism delegates from 17 counties, Kirinyaga administration and county tourism department, guide operators, media and local communities.

Principal Kirinyaga University College, Prof. Mary Ndung'u giving a presentation on tourism for peace and diversity

Different tourism initiatives were identified and documented including agro-tourism projects, cultural and heritage sites. The outreach was crowned with cleaning activity in Wanguru town and thereafter the launch of “ Niko sober” campaign meaning stay sober with focus of avoiding drugs and excessive alcohol among young generation.

Kecobat Develops Homestays Training Module

Training has been identified as a vital part of KECOBAT’s activities due to its ability to increase household incomes and tourism revenues through improved management, service and products.

With travel trends becoming more about experiential holidays, Kenya stands a better chance of reaping from the enthusiastic travelers seeking to touch and enjoy the warmth of rural community lifestyles in the simplest of pleasures sharing in the traditional fresh foods, folk arts, agricultural systems, cultures and language, among others.

Tourism and Community Development is the World Tourism Day Theme!

On September 27, 2014, Voi will be the national host of this year’s World Tourism Day, an annual event globally held by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). According to the UNWTO, World Tourism Day’s goal is to “foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value. The event seeks to address global challenges outlined in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and to highlight the contribution the tourism sector can make in reaching these goals.

This year’s World Tourism Day is being held under the theme ‘Tourism and Community Development’ and will be focusing on the ability of tourism to empower people and provide them with skills to achieve change in their local communities.