The government has rolled out a campaign aimed at ensuring local and international tourists plant and grow a tree in various attraction sites and hotels in the country.
Through the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, the five-day Kenya Tourism Week activities seeks to improve the countries tree cover and to position Kenya as a sustainable tourism destination.
Christened “One Tourist, One Tree” it will bring together various stakeholders in the Tourism industry, including hotels, tour operators, community-based organizations to preserve and conserve Kenya’s rich biodiversity.
‘Every visitor will play a role in elevating Kenya’s status as a leading sustainable tourism destination in Africa, and indeed the world’-PS ololtua
To offset carbon footprints, every visitor will participate in sustainable tree planting while they savoir the natural and beautiful serenity across the country.
These efforts are in line with President William Ruto’s quest to increase the national tree cover to 30 percent by planting 15 billion trees 2032.
The campaign will culminate into the celebration of the 45th edition of World Tourism Day to be held on Friday September 27th in Kisumu City.
Under the theme “Tourism and Peace,” it will focus on showcasing tourism role in fostering peace, unity and embracing cultural diversity.
One tree per tourist
Tourism Principal Secretary John Ololtua said the campaign follows a growing desire to strike a balance between tourism development and conservation towards a more sustainable future.
“Tourism is a major economic driver, contributing 10 per cent of our GDP and employing one in ten people worldwide. It also accounts for about 8 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. With global tourist arrivals expected to reach 1.8 billion by 2030, there’s an urgent need for sustainable practices to safeguard the natural and cultural assets that attract visitors,” Ololtua explained while speaking during a tree planting and an activation exercise of the campaign in the western tourism circuit at Kajulu Hills Forest.
To ensure the fruition of the government’s ambitious reforestation agenda, he underscored the Ministry’s commitment to environmental conservation by involving travelers.
He added that; “Every visitor will play a role in elevating Kenya’s status as a leading sustainable tourism destination in Africa, and indeed the world.”
Speaking during the exercise, Kisumu County Executive Member for Trade, Tourism Industry and Marketing Farida Salim thanked the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife for marking the Tourism Week and World Tourism Day in Kisumu.
She pointed out that conservation remains a key pillar in promoting tourism in Kisumu County.
“Kajulu Forest is a vital conservation area with rich biodiversity and indigenous trees. It is being positioned to become a focal point for ecotourism in the Western Tourism Circuit. The activities are geared towards supporting the communities in transitioning to clean energy solutions, reducing reliance on charcoal and the cutting of trees,” she said.
Ms Farida emphasized that the county’s policies will reinforce the commitment to sustainable travel and community empowerment thus encouraging more travelers to engage with these initiatives.
June Chepkemei, Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) CEO lauded the initiative as it compliments efforts to responsibly and sustainably market the tourism products.
She lauded Kajulu forest as a premier eco-tourism destination and called upon the Kajulu Community Forest Association to champion the preservation of the forest endowed with rich biodiversity and indigenous trees.
The forest is poised to become a focal point for eco-tourism in the western circuit. “Kenya’s allure lies in its natural beauty and diverse wildlife. By integrating sustainability into our tourism strategy, we are not only attracting conscientious travelers but also safeguarding our natural assets for future generations to enjoy,” said Chepkemei.
PS Ololtua was also flanked by CECM Environment, Water and Climate Change Joyce Aluoch, County Commissioner Benson Leparmorijo, Kisumu East MP Shakeel Shabir among others.
