The Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) has launched a campaign to promote domestic tourism in northern counties, including Samburu, Marsabit, and Turkana. The campaign aims to showcase the region's wildlife, culture, and adventure experiences to Kenyan citizens. This initiative seeks to enrich domestic travels and reduce the country's over-dependence on international visitors. By promoting local tourism, the KTB hopes to boost the local economy and create more jobs.
The Director of the Samburu National Reserve, Tom Lesarge, highlighted the importance of tourism in the region. He stated that the reserve accounts for about 85 percent of Samburu County's own-source revenue. Community conservancies in the area are also benefiting from tourism. Lesarge added that the campaign will expose tour operators to attraction sites in northern Kenya, including wildlife, vibrant cultures, and adventure activities such as hiking, rock climbing, and paragliding.
The northern region of Kenya has historically been underdeveloped, but tourism is now becoming a key aspect of the local economy. Lesarge noted that the region was "forgotten during the colonial days," but it is now opening up. The area boasts significant wildlife populations and vibrant cultures. The campaign aims to promote these attractions to domestic tourists.
June Chepkemei, the CEO of the Kenya Tourism Board, emphasized the campaign's goal of converting tourism awareness into actual bookings. The board is working closely with county governments and tour operators to achieve this objective. Chepkemei hopes that the campaign will help grow domestic tourism from 5.1 million to 7.6 million by the 2027-2028 financial year.
Marsabit County is also strengthening its cultural diversity and attractions as part of the northern tourism experience. The county's chief officer for tourism, Guyo Ali Adano, highlighted the Chalbi Desert, Lake Turkana, forests, wildlife, and archaeological sites as key attraction sites. Ileret, an archaeological site linked to early human history, is also a major draw for tourists.
Tour operators have pledged to drive efforts towards unlocking more tourist visits to the region. Raymond Cheruiyot, Chairperson of the Tour Operators Society of Kenya (TOSK), urged Kenyans to embrace domestic tourism. He described the Chalbi Desert as a unique and affordable alternative to traveling to Dubai.
The Kenya Tourism Board attributes improved road networks and air access to the northern parts of Kenya as key factors in making the destinations more accessible. The board is calling on Kenyans to embrace domestic tourism and explore the region's attractions. With this campaign, the KTB aims to promote local tourism and boost the economy of northern counties.
Key points
- The campaign aims to grow domestic tourism from 5.1 million to 7.6 million by the 2027-2028 financial year.
