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Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala has said that the ministry had raised Sh 16.5 million for the upcoming Magical Kenya Tembo Naming Festival set for October 8.
Balala who spoke during a media briefing on the ongoing Magical Kenya Travel Expo 2021, said the ministry seeks to raise Kshs 100 million for the festival which will be done in partnership with private sector firms which contribute Kshs 500,000 per name.
Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) Bank, Kenya Breweries Limited, Mabati Rolling Mills (MRM), Mediheal Hospital, East Africa Safari Rally, Chandaria Foundation, Oltukai Lodges, and African Wildlife Foundation are among the firms that have contributed to the kitty.
The fete which will be held at the Amboseli national park will allow individuals and organizations to adopt and give names to selected elephants after donating funds towards the program which is aimed at boosting conservation efforts of the endangered species.
Balala said the initiative is meant to bring all stakeholders on board in embracing conservation and ultimately ensuring the preservation of Kenya’s heritage.
“Our aim is to ensure that we encourage more people and organizations to engage in conservation efforts in the country. The Covid-19 pandemic has taught us many things and one of them is that we must ensure that conservation efforts are sustainable and that wildlife protection should never be vulnerable to the shocks that affect tourism activities in the country,” added Balala.
Travel advisories’ adverse effects on the tourism industry
While the CS noted that Tourism activities are expected to improve on increased vaccination drive countrywide, he decried the application of double standards in travel advisories by developed nations noting that the unfair regulations have negatively affected the economy.
Balala noted that most countries which are branded as travel risk are travel safe and not dangerous as exaggerated.
“Most countries that are branded as travel risk are travel safe, yes we have challenges but it does not mean we are not a risk but a peaceful nation, the double standards that come in do not help travel, we want the quarantine issue to be relaxed,” he said.
He therefore called for increased vaccination and fair regulations which he said will improve tourism industry globally.