Hoteliers in Mombasa, Kenya, have expressed discontent over Mombasa County government’s budget of Ksh36 million (roughly $350 000) for tourism development.

Of the total budget of Ksh10 billion (roughly $97 million), the County has earmarked Ksh180 million ($1,7 million) for the Tourism Department with Ksh36 million (roughly $350 000) for tourism development and Ksh143 million ($1,4 million) for recurrent expenditure.

Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC) Coast Branch Executive Officer, Sam Ikwaye, described the Ksh36 million set aside for tourism development as “peanuts”, adding that the industry is yet to recover.

The KAHC official said the County could have proposed at least a budget of Ksh1 billion since Mombasa is the Kenya’s tourism hub. Part of the Ksh1 billion, he added, could go towards marketing Mombasa in both local and overseas markets for the destination to attract more holidaymakers.

“With the Ksh36 million budget, how does the County expect to attract more visitors to the destination?” Ikwaye asked.

Kenya Coast Tourism Association Chairman, Mohamed Hersi, said the Ksh36 million budget for tourism development was “a drop in the ocean”. He said the County should have allocated 10% of its Ksh10 billion budget to Tourism to fund activities which could help revive the industry.

Like Ikwaye, Hersi, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Heritage Hotels, said Mombasa County should have budgeted a substantial amount of money for marketing the destination. “The County chiefs should know that apart from tourism generating revenue and jobs, it all supports the manufacturing, agriculture, transport among other economic activities,” he said.