THE Kenya
government’s decision
to add 16% VAT on to
all tourism services has
been slammed by Kenyan
tour operators, who believe
it will have an adverse
impact on an industry
already in a slump. Fears
of unrest around the
2013 elections, security
concerns (especially on
the northern sections
of the coast), combined
with continuing economic
stresses in traditional
feeder markets, have led
to a decline in numbers or
around 10% and operators
fear the introduction of VAT
will exacerbate this.
But Kenya Tourism’s
director of marketing,
Jacinta Mbithi, remains
buoyant on the future of
tourism in the country.
And she told TNW the
good news is that the
VAT collected in park fees
will be put back into the
development of parks.
Jacinta said there were
59 parks in Kenya but
only ve had signicant
concentrations of tourism
activity. A new devolution
of tourism decision-making
from central government
to Kenya’s 47 counties
will see more development
of these ‘minor’ parks as
tourism hubs.
Jacinta says Kenya
has a deep history of
tourism and, regardless
of setbacks, the country
still delights visitors with
the denitive, authentic,
original safari experience,
unrestricted savannah and
wildlife conservation areas,
a diverse cultural offering
and beautiful Indian Ocean
beaches.
