Kenya's Tourism : Polishing the Jewel

Kenya's tourism product lines and
its source markets function in a cross-sectoral context,
which leads to cross-cutting public and private sector
issues. Tourism has played a major role in Kenya's
development despite economic jolts from time-to-time by
internal and external shocks. In 2006 and 2007 the economy
grew rapidly and tourism, after a jolt in early 2008,
rebounded thanks to market conditions and some solid
marketing. The global recession, of course, has since
intervened, and Kenya will have to continue with bold and
committed actions if it is to regain its iconic position in
world tourism. Value chain analysis of safari, coastal, and
business and conference tourism highlights constraints and
opportunities. Current tourism enterprises are hampered by
significant taxation and regulation. Peaks and valleys in
tourism flows have exacerbated already limited access to
capital necessary for the sector to be competitive. The key
to sustainability lies in Kenya's ability to provide a
mix of tourism products -safari, coastal, cultural/heritage
and business and conference - while protecting the very
assets these products celebrate.