Tourism Stakeholders Oppose Proposed Merger of TRI and KTB

Tourism stakeholders have voiced strong opposition to the proposed merger of the Tourism Research Institute (TRI) and the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB). During a public input session by the National Assembly Committee on Tourism and Wildlife, held in Malindi, the stakeholders urged the government to provide TRI with adequate funding to maintain its autonomy and effectiveness.

Kilifi County Director of Tourism Mary Kabani contended that merging TRI with KTB would weaken TRI, an institution instrumental in driving Kenya's tourism growth. She criticized the lack of government funding as a reason for TRI's lack of visibility and stressed the need for sustainable resources to enable TRI to fulfill its mandate.

Kabani also noted that TRI's research is essential for making informed decisions in the tourism sector. Kilifi County Director of Tourism Mary Kabani emphasized, "TRI has been unnoticed because of financial constraints occasioned by underfunding by the government. Give them money and you would have breathed a new life into the institute to discharge its mandate."

Another stakeholder, Kate Mwikali of the Progress Welfare Association of Malindi, warned that the merger could undermine TRI's effectiveness and weaken the tourism industry. She proposed relocating TRI's headquarters to the Coast region, closer to the tourism-dependent communities. Additionally, stakeholders called for changes in the proposed legislation to allocate funds for beach management, arguing that beach tourism, while crucial for local economies, suffers due to poor management and inadequate cleanliness.