There is an urgent need to innovate and offer new products to tourists visiting Kenya to boost the sector.

Through a statement on recovery of the Tourism Sector in the country, post the COVID-19 Pandemic 2020, submitted to the Senate, the Nominated Senator Esther Okenyuri called for a new approach and deeper imagination by players in the tourism sector, the Senate being one of them.

She said although there has been an improvement in the sector, measures should be put in place to make the sector vibrant.

“Kenya has registered 72.4 percent recovery towards the 2019 figures, which is above the global average, in 2022, International tourist arrivals stood at 1,483,752 which represents a 70.45 percent increase as compared to arrivals of 870,465 in 2021,”explained Sen. Okenyuri.

According to Sen. Okenyuri, the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport recorded a 44 percent growth in passengers compared to 2021.

The Lawmaker says growth was also recorded in domestic airports namely Malindi, Kisumu and Ukunda indicating a recovery in the aviation sector for both international and domestic travel.

The growth as per the statement is attributed to several factors including easing of Covid-19 restrictions, implementation of the Tourism Strategy for Kenya 2021-2025, entry of new domestic airlines, resumption of cruise tourism and destination marketing campaigns.

Sen. Okenyuri appealed to the Senate to take the lead in encouraging counties that share cross-county tourism sites and facilities or tourism circuits to collaborate and plan together by ensuring their governments engage in strategic cross-counties tourism promotion programmes.

In addition, she urged the Senate to come up with an appropriate legal framework for the collaborations besides sensitizing Kenyans to support the course.

“I urge my fellow Senators to sensitize their constituents on the need to continue protecting the environment and wildlife as our treasured natural heritage,” appealed Sen. Okenyuri.

“I also call on the national and county governments to support indigenous efforts by communities to support tourism, especially in the face of climate change and the ongoing global economic turmoil,” she emphasized.