The Kenya Ministry of Tourism has opened a Regional Tourism office in Garissa in a bid to tap the huge tourism potential in the North Eastern Region.

While opening the office yesterday, the Minister for Tourism Hon. Najib Balala noted that the region is endowed with unique tourism products that can attract both local and international tourists. He said that tourism is the most promising product for North Eastern, especially with the Government plan to construct Lamu Port and the Rail Road link from Lamu to Ethiopia and Southern Sudan. The town of Garissa and Isiolo lies the proposed great road and rail network linking Kenya to the countries in the Horn of Africa.

Hon. Balala encouraged investors in the tourism sector to invest in world-class tourist facilities in the region and also promised to assist the local hotel operators in upgrading quality training through refresher courses to be mounted by the Kenya Utalii College.

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Local stakeholders and leaders had numerous requests for the Ministry to open up a tourism office in the region prompting the Minister fast track the establishment of an office in Garissa.

The focus of the Kenya tourism week this year will be in Garrisa. It will be the first time the Ministry will hold this International event starting from next week in North Eastern. The event climax will be marked on 27th September whose theme is:

Tourism and Biodiversity and calls for exploration and preservation of flora and fauna in the country.

He urged the locals to participate in the different activities planned in the week, especially the workshop and come up with recommendations and a way forward for tourism development in North Eastern.

He said the Presence of the North Eastern Tourism Association is very key to the growth of tourism because it will articulate issues affecting the sector and promote partnerships. He added that he expects local investors to apply for loans from Kenya Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) at a concessionary rate. Is this office still operational? Let us know by commenting below.