The Bill seeks to amend the Tourism Act, Cap. 381, by consolidating tourism research, market intelligence and financing functions to improve efficiency, accountability and service delivery. The proposed reforms include dissolving the Tourism Research Institute (TRI) and Tourism Finance Corporation (TFC), with their functions, assets and liabilities transferred to the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB).
The Departmental Committee on Tourism and Wildlife says the Bill seeks to “streamline the management of the tourism sector by merging overlapping state agencies and consolidating their functions for greater efficiency, accountability and service delivery hence prudent use of public funds.” Under the proposed changes, KTB would take over tourism research and market intelligence, including collecting and analysing information on tourism products, market needs, industry trends and sustainable tourism.
The Bill contains transitional measures intended to minimise disruption. Assets, rights, liabilities, agreements and ongoing legal matters belonging to TRI and TFC will be transferred to KTB, if the bill is passed into law. Licences, certificates, approvals and permissions issued by the two institutions would remain valid until expiry or lawful revocation, while pending applications would be transferred to KTB for determination.
Employees of the two institutions would, upon commencement of the new law, be deployed to the Public Service Commission.