ISIOLO COUNTY’S TOURISM POTENTIAL

PROPER THINKING

Dear Mr. Governor

Obviously we have an endowment that is a serious natural gift, an ornament if successful managed can raise our county’s profile and makes it a serious player in the tourism industry, but its critical we first need to self realise ourselves before we could talk of making any stride and possibly awake our sleeping giant.
Isiolo’s potentials is what makes it’s a critical pillar in the country’s vision 2030, a blue print developed to guide Kenya’s intentions to become middle income economy in the near future.
Our lodges, the diverse wildlife, the rich cultures of our people and many other products yet to be developed makes us the envied destination in the world but lack of either understanding or goodwill is denying us the privilege to make the so much out of this natures gift.
It’s incumbent on us to developed ways of tapping these monumental resources and benefit our economy.
What do we need to get right?
Marketing
Outreach is of essence because on our own we can realise so little, we first need to get the inventory of our capacity and understand the policy framework on which we operate to interrogate its level of success and determine how it can be enhanced and enriched with new thinking and approaches.

1) Thinking Partnership
KTB is the country’s premier statutory institution mandated to showcase Kenya’s tourism resources and seek market for it, its imperative we lobby KTB to feature isiolo in its marketing campaign so as to raise awareness about its existence and its product line on offer, we could support such initiatives by providing them with videos and documentaries that highlight isiolo areas of historical significances which will be this campaigns strongest show and emphasis, the same could be posted on the KTB website so that any visit could benefit isiolo as well.

2) Kenya Association of Tour Operators
Kenya association of the tour operators is a significant player in the tourism industry and its importance cannot be overemphasised, Isiolo County needs to engage this outfit so as to benefit from its reach given its million membership base, KATO is the umbrella body that brings together all tour companies in Kenya and partnering with them will be critical, its serve as a bridge between the tourist and the market and since KATO members are responsible for managing their client itinerary it will be prudent if they have all the right information about isiolo county’s tourism product so as to correctly advise their clients and convince them why this destination is superb in terms of offering.
3) Building of an Interactive Website
In this technologically era isiolo has no excuse not to market its tourism potential using technological platform because information empowers and absence from the cyber sphere is not only undoing but embarrassments as its depicts us as inherently analogue.
We can very easily let the world know about us and all that we offer, the rates and every other related information from comfort of their home just by visiting the web portal.
4) Product diversification
Other than only offering a single line of service this lodges and game reserves could think outside the box by enriching its menu by bringing on board cultural tourism where locals could be allowed to organise cultural activities around the camps so that the revellers could share in the experience, this way a client feels given a pure value for their money
5) Creating a Flagship Project
Isiolo county could think of creating a flagship project like the Maralal camel derby or even the great wildebeest migration, this project could be made annual occurrence with possibly week long activities that may culminate in a major culturally showcase involving all communities in isiolo, we could think of a great trek along dry Ewaso nyiro river course to explain our peoples migratory lifestyle informed by their nomadic nature, this would allow the revellers a peep into this unique cultural phenomena, a trek that could culminate in a well organised elaborate cultural festival showcasing every aspect of the participants ways of life, the group like Dharara which Aba odha hulufo was once part of would be very instrumental in an initiative of this kind because they once tried it in Merti before it was abandoned.
6) EXCHANGE PROGRAM
Exchange program is an arrangement that encourages a kind of approach where partnership is entered into with the best practitioners in the industry so as to allow sharing of ideas and letting your staff establishment benefit from the program by ways of attachments to the best in the field.
This will enrich their experience and equip them with better skills that would come in handy in their service delivery quest, and here an approach to the well established hospitality well known powerhouse in the coastal city will be a first step in the right direction.
7) SEASONAL HYPE/EUPHORIA
Developing of a product with seasonal hype and euphoria appeal is the way to go, they is the generally feeling by most families that this are times families should spend quality time together and bond and therefore packaging a tailor made services will act as a crowd puller if rightfully designed with enough attention paid to price competitiveness as Kenyans are economically sensitive, the seasonal craze in question could be valentine, Easter vacation and Christmas jamboree.
8) CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
This are obviously non statutory undertaking but whose benefit cannot be under estimated because any corporate institution with some passion for communal interest will be viewed favourably by the client base and this may just prove the super trick to compliment various marketing approach adopted.
Am always on call and ready to serve Isiolo