Tourism & ICT

Hon Adan Sheikh

Presentation

Back ground Tourism products Why Invest in Kwale Conclusions Questions

Background

Located 56 kilometres from the Likoni Ferry crossing, Kwale is mainly an inland area, but has a coastline south of Mombasa. Kwale is famous for the pristine Diani Beach that is part of the Msambweni Division.

Background.

It also boasts of the Shimoni caves, Wasini Island, the Shimba Hills National Reserve and Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary, part of the Tsavo National Park, Sheldrick Falls and Maji Moto Springs

• Kwale County is one of the six counties in the coast region. It borders Taita Taveta county to the North West, Kilifi County and Lamu County to the North east, Mombasa County and Indian ocean to the East.

• Population aproximately 700,000• Population growth rate 3.1%• Sex ratio 95 males per 100 females• Youth comprises 47%• Elderly (over 60 years) account for only 5%

Background contd….

Background contd….

Kwale’s tourism sector is a thriving growth industry, and presents many excellent opportunities for investment. We encourage both local and foreign investment in tourism, as means of encouraging development and alleviating poverty.

Background contd...

We actively encourage diversification of our tourism product by seeking and promoting investment into a varied range of tourism products and services in an equally diverse range of locations. We support the development of Community and Eco-Tourism and projects that protect natural and cultural resources and equitably share products with those communities with which they work.

(1) Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park

Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park and Reserve

1. Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park is located on the south coast off Shimoni and south of Wasini Island in Kwale District on the south Kenyan coast near the Tanzanian border. The complex covers a marine area with four small islands surrounded by coral reef. Kisite island is a small waterless coral island, 8 km offshore in the Marine Park.

Products

Kisite Mpunguti…..

Coral platforms around the raised central portion are exposed at low tide. The three other coral islets in the park (Mpunguti ya Juu, Mpunguti ya Chini and Liwe la Jahazi) lie closer to the larger Wasini Island, are scrub covered and support no significant wildlife or birds

(2) Shimba Hills National Reserve

The Shimba Hills National Reserve is a small National Reserve in the heart of Kwale, 33 km from Mombasa and 15 km from the Diani Beach. The reserve is an area of coastal rain forest, woodland and grassland.

Shimba Hills…

Shimba Hills is an important area for plant biodiversity– over 50% of the 159 rare plants in Kenya are found in the Shimba Hills, including some endangered species of cycad and orchids. It is also a nationally important site for birds and butterflies.

(3) Diani Beach

– A vibrant, intimate little paradise on the quiet shores of the Indian Ocean comprising of Tiwi Beach, Galu Beach, Chale Island, Funzi Island, Msambweni and Kinondo.

(4) Eco Tourism

ecotourism is low-impact tourism that conserves forests and allied resources and promotes social-economic development.

Kaya Kinondo , Diani, etc..

(5) Cultural Tourism

Includes festivals or fairs (Music, dace, comedy Performing arts Museums or art gallery Historic or heritage buildings, sites,

monuments Art or craft workshop Traditional sites and cultural displays

(6) Sacred Kayas

The Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests in the Coastal lowland combine history, culture and add to the aesthetic appeal of Kenya's natural scenery. The Kaya forests consist of11 forests on a 200km stretch of land. A "Kaya" is a Mijikenda term for a homestead while the Mijikenda is a term referring to the nine Coastal groups namely the Giriama, Digo, Duruma, Rabai, Kauma, Ribe, Jibana, Kambe and Chonyi. The Sacred Mijikenda Kaya forests are listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

(7) Development of Resort Cities

This is one of Kenya’s flagship projects in the Tourism Sector which creates lucrative investment opportunities and involves the development of Diani Resort city

(8) Construction of International Hotel Chains

The County Government is in the process of developing a strategy to attract quality high-end international hotel chains and encourage investment in conference facilities. The opportunities in the hotel industry are provided for by the unmet demand for and high occupancy rates in key tourist areas during the higher season.

(9) Investment in Conference

Kenya is host to two major UN organisations namely the United Nations Environment Programme and the United Nations Habitat. Nairobi, the capital city, is also rapidly becoming a regional business and financial services hub. These are some of the factors that make the demand for conference facilities high and therefore attractive for investment.

(10) Entertainment industry (Amusement parks, clubs, casinos etc

Great potential exists in the entertainment area. Investment in these areas will also add value to holiday experiences. With a growing economy and tourism sector, there is an increasing demand for entertainment options that include amusement parks, clubs, casinos, theatres and specialty restaurants.

(11) Water sport Tourism

Waterways in Kenya have not been fully exploited and developed as a leisure product. Therefore investment is required along the coastal stretch from Tiwi to Kinondo.

Why Invest in Kwale

Investors can take advantage of Kwales endowement of unique and vast combination of tourist attractions such as beautiful coastal beaches, coral reefs, caves and river deltas, abundant wildlife ,good climate, beautiful geographical landscapes, savannah grasslands, forests, The indian ocean etc. Others include hot springs, mountains, botany and zoology, world heritage sites, and rich cultural history.

Why invest in Kwale…

Kwale offers an appealing investment climate to investors looking for low-cost, efficient production and service location form which to target export markets

Why invest in Kenya/Kwale..

Enabling economic policy framework Uninterrupted political stability Well established private sector, entrepreneurial

tradition and strong tourism sector Abundant, affordable and well educated human

resources Relatively developed physical infrastructure Good social amenities and quality of life Guaranteed investment protection

Why invest in Kenya/Kwale..

Investment Policy

Kenya employs liberal fiscal and monetary policies that enhance the investment environment.  These include:-•Pricing of goods determined by market forcesNo exchange controlsRationalised trade licensingNo discretionary clauses in the tax laws

Why invest in Kwale

Major Investment Incentives

These include:•Investment Allowance; New investments on hotels or expansions or refurbishments are granted allowance on plant, machinery, building and equipment•Depreciation; Liberal rates are allowed for depreciation of assets based on book value•Loss carried forward – to be offset against future profits.

Why invest in Kwale...

Guarantees to Investors•The National Government guarantees repatriation of capital and profits after payment of the necessary taxes•Kenya is a member of the Muiltilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGRA), a world bank affiliate•Kenya is a member of the International Center for the settlement of Investment disputes. (ICSID)•Kenya is also a member of African Trade Insurance Agency (ATIA)

Conclusion

There is something for everyone in Kwale: photographers, writers, sportsmen, artists, anglers, mountaineers and divers. For those who just want to sit and relax in the sun, the Kenyan coast is famous for its exotic palm fringed, sand beaches, and for its coral reefs gently stroked by the clear blue waters of the Indian Ocean

Jambo!