LAMU TOURISM GETS A BOOST AS GO PLACES GETS INVOLVED
(Posted 04th October 2014)
Lamu’s tourism businesses will be getting the proverbial shot in the arm after Go Places, as part of their CSR activities, short for Corporate Social Responsibility, has announced they will support the Lamu Tourism Association in marketing the town’s tourism attractions.
After being slapped by the UK with what can best be described as a prohibition order, for UK nationals not to travel to the area, have tourist arrivals tumbled and resorts and other businesses depending on tourism taken a financial beating. A curfew order given by Kenya’s Inspector General of Police, himself a very controversial figure, has added to the woes of Lamu as it prevents tourists from freely moving about the ancient town and frequent restaurants after dark. While the website of LTA www.lamutourism.org appears unavailable can other details be accessed through the association’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/lamutourism/timeline
It is hoped that the support from Go Places will boost business and help to promote travel to Lamu, especially in the run up to the annual Lamu Cultural Festival which this year takes place between 27th and 30th November. Other local festivals are the Maulidi Festival, next taking place from 13th to 16th January 2015, the Lamu Painters Festival from 02nd to 15th of February 2015 and the Lamu Yoga Festival from 12th to 16th of March next year.
Go Places in a media release about the new partnership said:
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Go Places has launched a new and unique CSR initiative that is aimed at enabling hospitality establishments enhance operations and mitigate losses experienced during the low season in the country’s tourism calendar.
Among the first organizations to benefit from this initiative is the Lamu Tourism Association (LTA): whereby Go Places will for a period of six months promote LTA members by including a comprehensive listing of their various accommodation properties in the new Go Places Booking website goplacesbooking.com.
LTA has over 80 members including hotels, guesthouses, lodges and private villas; restaurants, shops and galleries; yoga and wellbeing centers; water sports companies; fishing and dhow charters; airlines and bus companies; local businesses; tour guiding and conservation associations; banks and Government bodies.
The newly unveiled Go Places Booking website (GOPLACESBOOKING.COM) is an all-encompassing online portal enabling fast and easy bookings and reservations for restaurants, conferencing, accommodation, various discounts, travel and entertainment.
End quote
Lamu is one of Kenya’s ancient towns which has changed little through the modern times and visitors can see the classic Swahili buildings and often intricate architectural features, the large carved ornamental doors, observe dhows – local sailing ships with their trademark triangular sail – being built by hand with wood the main material or watch Lamu chests and wall decorations being carved and inlaid with copper and other materials, all part of an age old tradition.
(Pictures from the LTA Facebook page)
The Lamu county government has recently embarked on training local guides who were in a week long course given skills such as customer care, communication skills, developing code of conduct and ethics, projecting professional image, safety and security, dhow navigation and product knowledge.
Diving, fishing and exploring the mangrove forests are some of the other activities which await tourists who mostly fly in from Nairobi on scheduled flights out of Wilson Airport (Safarilink operates daily services) or by charter from Mombasa and Malindi. For added information about Kenya’s tourism sites click on www.magicalkenya.com
