The government is in advanced stage towards combining the management of its two conferencing facilities in Nairobi by 2022 in desperate efforts to save the collapsing tourism sector.
The National Treasury announced its plans to merge Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) with the Bomas of Kenya and all other public funded meetings, incentives, and conferencing and exhibitions centres.
The merger is top of government strategies to market tourism which has been seriously ravaged by the Covid-19 pandemic resulting to massive job losses.
The move also aims to change the operations and the way the Treasury will fund state agencies.
Bomas was known for playing host to traditional events and heritage for tourism but later tainted its image after it was turned into the venue for divisive political events.
The disputed 2013 and 2017 presidential results were announced at the Bomas of Kenya and the recent launch of the BBI report that has put the country is a campaign mode amid covid-19 crisis.
The Ministry under CS Ukur Yatani also plans to outsource management of Bomas of Kenya and Kenya Utalii College.
“To meet the demands imposed on the tourist sector by the pandemic, the sector will fast-track the review of Tourism Policy Framework,” National Treasury said in the post Covid-19 economic recovery strategy note.
KICC reported zero revenues in the exhibition industry and blamed it to the pandemic.
“The sector is currently undertaking review of the National Tourism Policy 2010 which will culminate in the review of the Tourism Act 2011 and a major restructuring of the existing institutions into five semi-autonomous agencies.” Treasury said.
Chief executive Nana Gecaga claimed that KICC cancelled 10 events between March and June including the Next Einstein Forum 2020 Global Gathering, 4th Pan African Youth Conference and China Province Expo.
