Tourism CS Rebecca Miano during the African Rafting Championships at Rapids Camp Sagana, Murang'aThe Ministry of Tourism will partner with county governments to promote opportunities available to both local and foreign tourism.
Tourism CS Rebecca Miano has said every county has unique tourist attractions that can be harnessed to boost local economies while raking in foreign exchange.
“I want to assure county governments that my ministry is ready to partner with them to develop and promote tourism sites to attract both domestic and foreign tourists,” Miano said at the Rapids Camp Sagana during the first African Rafting Championships in Murang’a county.
Miano described Murang’a as endowed with many sites that attract cultural, sports and adventure tourism and agri-tourism.
A meeting with Governor Irungu Kang’ata saw proposals floated on how to market the county as a serious tourism destination, she added.
The county hosts a large part of the Aberdare Ranges that are yet to be fully exploited, with Miano revealing that her ministry will allow four routes into Aberdare Forest to be developed for tourism.
The four will be established at Gatare, Mioro, Wanjerere and Kangari forests to boost eco-tourism and enhance the lives of local community members.
Miano said sports tourism also presents an opportunity to showcase the opportunities available for tourism to other countries.
“We have seen the participation of 10 countries in these championships. We are excited to see sports and adventure tourism become some of the fastest growing segments in the tourism sector,” she added.
The CS pointed out that the Ministry of Sports sponsored the rafting championships, indicating the government’s commitment to promote sports tourism.
Kang’ata said the week-long event has marketed Rapids Camp as a tourist destination while promoting water sports that are not too popular locally.
The Camp has hosted other water sports including kayaking and canoeing competitions before and which are mostly attended by foreign participants.
“Many people did not know that these facilities were available and now they do. This comes just weeks after we concluded the Murang’a Investors’ Forum which aimed at drawing people into our county.”
The president of the African Federation, Bellabas El Mamoun, noted that when he first proposed an African tournament to the World Rafting Federation, most members laughed it off.
El Mamoun said he organised the championships as a challenge and pledged to ensure the World Championships are hosted at the same venue next year.
“The World Rafting Federation is very happy that the championships have been hosted in Kenya, especially with such good organisation,” he said.
Teams from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Morocco, Nigeria, Somalia, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Sudan and DRC Congo participated in the championships.
Sports PS Elijah Mwangi said hosting the continental tournament is a historic milestone that speaks to Kenya’s emerging position as a premier destination for global sporting events and a regional leader in sports tourism.
“As a department, we are deliberate in our efforts to spur the growth of sports across all disciplines. Through investing in programmes and structures that support talent identification and development, we will continue supporting skilled sportsmen and women, and transform their skills into money,” Mwangi said.
He added that sports is no longer just a recreational activity and has transformed into a commercial undertaking that generates income, sustains livelihoods and transforms communities.
President of the African Bellabas El Mamoun addressing journalists at Rapids Camp Sagana during African Rafting Championships
A team from Burundi participating in the first African Rafting Championships at Rapids Camp, Sagana, in Murang'a
