Mudavadi: Innovation key to tourism sector growth

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has urged the tourism sector to come up with innovative solutions that can ensure sustainable growth in the hospitality industry.

Speaking during the ongoing Africa Hospitality Investment Forum (AHIF) in Nairobi, Mudavadi called on the tourism sector players to partner with policymakers to change the hospitality landscape.

He also highlighted the critical role of policymakers in making Africa more attractive to foreign investors.

“There are a lot of issues that could be tackled through your influence, so that we have better hospitality industry in Kenya,” said Mudavadi.

He added that the tourism sector had massively contributed to the growth of the most receptive destination sites in the hospitality industry, making Kenya the best tourist destination in East Africa.

Further, Mudavadi urged the hospitality industry to increase job opportunities to reduce the huge unemployment rate.

“We want to see more employment and more capacity building initiated within the hospitality sector,” he stated.

The Prime Cabinet Secretary assured tourists that Kenya is safe.

Global risks

At the forum, Tourism, Wildlife, and Heritage Cabinet Secretary Peninah Malonza was one of the panelists during a session on “Collaborating for a sustainable future: the role of government partnerships in developing tourism regions and zones.”

“The AHIF programme covers a wide range of topics, including global risks and their impacts on Africa’s hospitality industry, achieving net-zero targets, and implementing environmental, social, and governance strategies,” she said.

“Also under focus are access to capital, transformational travel, hotel development challenges and opportunities, hotel financing criteria, successful tourism entrepreneurship, operational excellence, the importance of human skills, alternative accommodation, emerging market dynamics, the latest trends, and the future of hospitality investment in Africa, among others,” added Malonza.