BALALA’S RETURN TO THE TOURISM PORTFOLIO SHOWS FIRST PROMISING SIGNS
(Posted 17th December 2015)
When a few weeks ago Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta finally announced his very long overdue cabinet reshuffle – loyalty no doubt is a virtue but in politics nevertheless a double edged sword too – was the jubilation of the tourism sector instant, loud and unanimous when he made Tourism a stand-alone portfolio again and moved Najib Balala back to where, by broad consensus, he belonged and should have been from the word go.
While there still are sentiments over keeping the wildlife part of it out of this ministry, lobbying towards that end continues I have been assured, was it nevertheless a giant leap towards finally turning the tide and bringing recovery to the industry.
Najib Balala’s most recent interview in the Kenyan media has highlighted on a number of areas he thinks important but his mention of how to spur domestic tourism and by prolongation tourism from the region, in particular the NCIP countries, will go a long way to open the eyes of both Kenyans and the service providers in Kenya.
It is time that the concept of a holiday for Kenyans takes the shape of spending time in Lamu, Malindi, Watamu, Kilifi, Shanzu, Nyali, Tiwi, Diani and beyond and to visit one of the 60 game parks or dozens more game reserves instead of flying off to London, Dubai or elsewhere. Lodge operators have residents’ rates available throughout the year, best of course during the traditional low season and there is budget accommodation to be found in many parks, provided by the Kenya Wildlife Service, or to make a point on Ol Pejeta at their Pelican House which easily sleeps a family of eight or a group of friends wanting to discover some of Kenya’s great outdoors.
Balala is seen today as the one who is rallying the industry together and all willingly follow his call, as there is at last a Cabinet Secretary in office who understands the industry like perhaps no other in Kenyan politics of today. Balala’s analysis of the immediate needs and measures to be taken to revive tourism have already resulted in landing fees for charter aircraft to be waved from January 2016 onwards.
This however is only a start, usually reliable and closely connected sources have stated in correspondence exchanged over the past few hours. Balala is expected to step hard on tax measures slapped on the industry three years ago, which made the country less competitive versus Kenya’s nearest rivals in the safari business and he will probably also take a hard look at the fragmentation of the industry’s public sector set up, which was a job creation machine invented by the previous coalition government. A single, strong and united Tourism Authority would very likely serve Kenya much better today compared to the six or seven separate parastatals, and much money could be saved in cutting down on the multiple back of house Admin, HR, Legal and Finance departments were a single authority created.
Balala’s next major opportunity to meet the global tourism fraternity and reassure them that it is now truly back to business as usual in Kenya will be at the upcoming FITUR in Spain, where a reunion with Dr. Taleb Rifai is on the cards, as Najib after all was Chair of the UNWTO Executive Committee when he last held the tourism portfolio. ITB for sure will be THE global stage where Kenya will pull out all stops and if anyone it will be Balala who can accomplish and increase of tourism marketing budget for the next financial year, when the deck of financial cards is being reshuffled. Like few others is he able to make an impact even on cabinet colleagues, as well remembered from his 2008-2012 term of office to accept that every dollar invested in tourism marketing has a hug impact on added revenues and, perhaps the most important aspect in Kenya today, bringing back lost jobs and creating yet more.
Well done Najib Balala, for winning back the trust of the private sector which was all but lost under your predecessor and for setting the stage to return Kenya on a steep growth curve.
