KENYA MAINTAINS TOP RANKINGS AT WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS BUT DIANI STANDING UNDER THREAT
(Posted 22nd June 2015)
Kenya’s tourism industry received a double of good news in the space of a week when, after the long overdue lifting of anti-travel advisories by Britain Kenya’s Tourism Board was once again named as Africa’s leading destination KTB, in the face of often overwhelming adversity, stood its ground and continued to showcase the country abroad, in the region and at home, where domestic travel proved to be a lifeline for many beach resorts and safari lodges.
The award is seen as a reward for the spirited way how KTB fought back, often with limited resources available until in the recent budget the financial estimates were raised fivefold giving, if the money is released promptly and in full, KTB to ability to launch a global recovery marketing campaign.
Besides individual trophies won, as reported earlier, did Diani Beach once again receive the most votes and came out winner in the category of Africa’s Leading Beach Destination.
It is however this trophy in particular which raised both joy and depression at once, as NEMA Kenya has apparently and inexplicably granted rights to dredge for five million tons of sand which includes the beaches of Tiwi and Waa. Apart from the potentially affected SCRA members questioning the mental state of NEMA officials to have granted such a license, did one Professor Kibwage come under fire from the South Coast Residents Association for his misleading statements in the local media that dredging would take place off the Likoni coast. He deviously left out the fact that the license, seen by this correspondent, clearly states that Waa and Tiwi too are designated dredging areas. These however are tourist resort beach areas and going by the track record of the dredgers in the past can it not be ruled out that they make night time appearances off Diani to syphon out sand, which could have devastating consequences for this award winning beach and its tourism industry.
It is understood that SCRA will appeal the decision and if necessary take the matter all the way through the Kenya court system. Combined with an injunction could this effectively ground the dredging operation for years, negating the license and forcing the construction companies for the new railway and ports to look elsewhere for sand, where extraction can be conducted without risking Kenya’s vital tourism industry in the process.
Outspoken Mr. Sam Ikwaye, the Kenya Association of Hotel Keepers and Caterers’ coast representative, has already confirmed that one key element in making the license operational, would be the mandatory consent of the Kwale County Government. With the Kwale County Governor on record over his opposition to dredge for sand off the stretch of beach under his government’s jurisdiction that permission may never be given, also leading to the license to lapse for lack of secondary permits.
Meanwhile, as this sage continues with more twists and turns, are congratulations extended to the Kenya Tourism Board and the Diani community which had lobbied relentlessly to get as many votes as possible to capture the award for Africa’s leading beach destination.
