From: Obat Masira
Date: Jul 26, 2009 3:39 AM
Subject: RE: SPORT FISHING AS TOURIST PROMOTION IN WESTERN KENYA
To: jaluo dot com

Sport Fishing as a Tourist Promotion in Western Kenya

The fishing Industry in Lake Victoria remains the major economic mainstay not only in Western Kenya but produces almost 90% of the total fish production nationally.
However, the Lake has other untapped economic potential which include water transport both for passengers and cargo, Sport fishing and other water sports. Investing in water transport would serve the dual purpose of promoting both passenger and cargo traffic and water sports such as water skiing, wind surfing and fishing for leisure known as sport fishing.

An ambitious investment in the area of both passenger and cargo transport would not only ease pressure on local and regional road transport but would at the same time provide a cheaper transport option.

The only challenge here has been the long absence of legislation to regulate water transport that should include the issuance of licenses for coxswains that obtains to vehicle drivers on the roads. This should include testing on safety measures and basic coastal navigation to ensure the safety of seafarers.

The fact that Lake Victoria is a large water body the second largest fresh water lake in the world shared by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania therefore provides a major natural resource with diverse investment opportunities with remarkable economic potential such in the shoreline within the region.

Sport Fishing:
While fishing Industry in the Lake Victoria has evolved over the years from subsistence to commercial fishing, making it the economic mainstay in Western Kenya, the development of sport fishing would go a long way in enhancing further the economic benefits derived from the Lake ecosystem and its diverse biodiversity.

The presence of numerous Islands in the Lake, also provide ideal countryside tourist outposts that would promote fishing as a sport to both local and foreign tourists.

Nile perch fishing being an offshore fishery, coupled with its ability to grow to body size as large as over 100 Kgs would be another attraction in the promotion of sport fishing. This is because fishing as a sport is completed on the basis of the size in Kgs of the catch

This sport in Lake Victoria has the potential of playing a pivotal role in developing the Western Kenya Tourist circuit which largely remains a proposal on paper.

Introduction of this sport in the Lake Victoria would attract major related investment especially in the Hotel Industry with several 5 star hotels lining the shoreline, with outpost subsidiaries in the Islands such as Mageta, which was a detention camp during the colonial regime Ndere, Rusinga, Mfangano, Ringiti, Rimba, Migingo, Ndeda, Oyamo e.t.c on the Kenya boarders.

Developing the Western Kenya tourist circuit would provide the visiting tourist a second destination in the fresh water shoreline besides the Costal region in the Indian Ocean.

Uganda being a land locked country, without a coastline has significantly developed its part of Lake Victoria shoreline including the 20 presidential suite Munyonyo Beach Hotel but has not gone the extra mile to incorporate sport fishing.

CONCLUSION
The potential of developing water sports would therefore no doubt spurs economic development in the area of tourism Industry and this is the catalyst required to open up the Western Kenya Tourist Circuit that would link the water sports including sport fishing, water skiiying , wind surfing in the Lake Victoria with the scenic wonder geographical attraction in the region that include Kit Mikayi and other rocky scenes within the environs, the Proposed Obama museum in Kogelo, Yala swamp, Ruma National Park, to view rare world life, Lake Kanyaboli and Kakamega forest.

This would spur subsidiary supporting Industries like tour operators investing, in fleets of both road, and water transport with air backups, 5 star hotels with requisite bed capacity to accommodate the potential tourists. The overall impacts of development in the areas highlighted have the potential to significantly improve the national economy by creating several thousands of employment opportunities and subsidiary investment

Prepared by:-
Jacob Odhiambo Odipo.
Retired Fishery Officer.

To be published in The Lake Basin Jewel Magaine soon. For more information Contact the publisher.
Akech Obat Masira
Website:http/Misangoarts.blogspot.com
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TEL NO: 254 726 164 954