Njoki Kihiu
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| Tourism Cabinet Secretary Peninah Malonza/FILE |
The Ministry of Tourism has decried impending budget cuts saying they risk crippling its efforts to market the country's tourism sector.
Tourism Cabinet Secretary Peninnah Malonza said the proposed
cuts under the supplementary budget touch on travel which may affect how the
ministry markets the country.
"If you look at the development budget that was cut by
Sh2 billion which is more on travelling, then it means we will lack money to
travel out there to market the country," Malonza told the House Tourism
and Wildlife Committee on Monday.
"This ministry is very vital because it contributes 10
per cent of the total GDP in this country. If we fund it well then it means we
will be in a position to rescue our economy and attract more forex
revenue."
Malonza cited the growth of tourism sector saying tourist
numbers had risen to 1.4 million from 800,000 in just five months.
"We are already doing better than before in terms of
the number of tourists flowing in the country," she said.
"The more we have international tourists the more
revenue we have. I am confident that the number will continue increasing from
that 1.4 million in the next two months or so," Malonza told lawmakers.
House intervention
Committee Chairperson Kareke Mbiuki (Maara MP) promised to
raise Malonza's concerns to the House and have some of the budget reinstated.
"The ministry raised major concerns about the cuts, and
I understand the Executive was clear on cutting its total expenditure by 300
billion shillings but as much as we support that, we will try to see what can
be reinstated," Mbiuki said.
He ruled out a confrontational approach.
"We are here to forge a peaceful path where this
committee works well with the executive. I will be representing your grievances
to the House and we shall move forward together."
Under the supplementary budget for the Financial Year
2022/23, the ministry's allocation was reduced from Sh5 billion to Sh3 billion.