A certain rich Wazuan here, makes his money from domestic tourism. He saw a gap and went for it.

I like the fact that Richard Corcoran has been able to factually articulate the case. It is not a pro/anti-establishment discussion or tourism industry seeking favours but core bread and butter issues at discussion here. Interesting angle on the data from alma too about online searches.

Dr Richard Leakey as a professional did make this sector receive a major hearing ear in President Moi's regime due to the donor funding and appease required from Kenya. Left to 'ourselves' we are cannibalizing each other. Devolution and involvement of county governments run by short term thinkers just complicated it.

At the root, poor governance (little creativity with resource mobilisation) and corruption are our undoing.

As an example, maybe any county legislation impacting local an forex gains +/-ve needs to go through review at central government for strategic review. At the end of the process, the county still keeps a portion of the income generated but core legislation remains at central government.

An Economic Crimes Bill should be enacted where in part poaching and corruption are declared economic crimes with special well staffed courts where wealth restitution is effected as well as severe punishment like death/life imprisonment.

Punitive actions when taken have a way of containing negative human behavior.

There is certainly a problem that calls for attention, but I also get a feeling that matters are being over hyped here.
Actualy my take is that the write up by Richard Corcoran has certain valid points, but also many half truths based on business interest biases

The VAT matter was poorly and hastily implemented, complicating pricing issues for businesses. If my memory serves me well, it was formally adopted in the budget estimates read out in June 2013. As required by the constitution, the proposal was floated a couple of months earlier for the public to reflect on them.

In regard to security, I agree that the government needs to do more, as the current situation is worrying.

I also do agree that Poaching can be checked much better than we are doing. To be fair though, Tanzania and other African Countries are also faced with this menace.

Businessmen will always attempt to lobby Government as they canvass for preferential treatment even in circumstances where it is not justified.

Why for example would tour vehicles expect to
have a different set of rules in relation to other PSVs!!

I have no issue with the park fees being increased to $90 as Kenya deserves to earn equitable revenue from her resources and as is usual, every passing year, prices across all sectors go up as a matter of course.

Whining about small scale operators and calling for their obliteration is to lose it completely.
For starters, you begin small before you can grow big. In any case would anybody show me a sector where the small operators don’t exist. Even media has the gutter guys eking out their living right there.

I am not persuaded that Liberty Africa Safaris Kenya is making any losses!! How!! Its just a fat lie. One that stinks.
He would have to demonstrate how that happens, otherwise I am not sold out on this.

Irony
Isnt the proliferation of lodges in our parks an indication of business fortunes!! Why would any businessman invest in a resort with no prospects for returns!

Year in year out we keep hearig how we should grow our tourist arrival numbers.
Doesnt that of necessity mean that we have to increase our bed capacity!

Finaly, just as Richard Cocoran may have voted for Uhuru, so did the Matatu guys, the brief case operators, hotel industry investors, ranch owners around the Parks etc.

From that article, the real problems I think we have are:
- Insecurity; this will definitely kill the coast circute and may be our tourism
- Poaching, if it reamins unchecked
- Overdevelopment of the Mara.

All the others are neither here nor there, the park entrance fee is fine, VAT is fine, brief case whatever are simply someone mourning about competition

B.Timer I thought I was going to see data. You are showing me a link about projections.

My friend. The data is damning. There is no way to hide from that.

The tourism industry needs a major injection of Jubilee gov't machismo.

Bring in the First Lady. Her participation in a marathon is GREAT for the country. Let her work on our PR.

Lakini trying to pretend that things are rosy is a recipe for failure.

I know that's the jubilee motto. Kusema na kutotenda. But on this one, data is not lying. You are.

I'm saying that as someone who's seeing a major decline in bookings from the industry first hand. From 50 bookings a day to 5 a day. Accross the board.

The queries you get from the bookings are simply

"how safe is Kenya in October? I'm coming with my family and want to know if I should come to Kenya or Tanzania."

The above is copy pasted.