The Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA) has called on tourism industry stakeholders to actively engage in environmental conservation initiatives, emphasizing the importance of a healthy environment for the sustainability of the tourism sector. This appeal was made on Thursday at a mangrove restoration exercise held at the Bangladesh area in Mombasa, an event that underscored the crucial link between tourism and environmental preservation. KATA CEO, Nicanor Sabula, highlighted the role that natural ecosystems play in attracting visitors to the country and warned that neglecting environmental care could adversely impact Kenya’s economy.
Sabula pointed out that tourism is intricately tied to the well-being of the environment. “Tourism depends on the environment, so if we do not conserve our environment, it will simply mean that the economy will also be affected. So we will give tree planting priority, and the exercise here in Bangladesh is just the start,” he explained. His remarks were made during a collaborative mangrove planting event that aimed to restore the coastal ecosystem, an effort which saw the participation of various stakeholders from the tourism sector, including the Kenya Coast Tourism Association (KCTA), Jambo Jet, and the Pubs, Entertainment and Restaurants Association of Kenya (PERAK). Together, they partnered with the local community to plant over 1,000 mangrove seedlings along the Tudor Creek in Mikindani.
KATA Chair, Patrick Kamanga, reiterated the association’s commitment to environmental stewardship through its initiative, KATACares. He emphasized that the association’s role in the tourism industry goes beyond facilitating travel; it also extends to community engagement and environmental responsibility. “What we do as KATA is to sell air tickets; people are traveling all over the world, and that is why we decided to give back to the community. Through KATACares, we assess areas where we can support, and this year, we chose Mombasa. We will work with the community to ensure that we make a difference,” Kamanga remarked. He also promised that KATA would follow up on the progress of the planted seedlings to ensure they reach maturity, contributing to the long-term conservation of the region.
Local leaders also expressed their support for the initiative. Birikani Chief Sudi Hamisi commended the exercise for its potential to contribute to President William Ruto’s ambitious goal of planting 15 billion trees by 2032. He also highlighted the positive impact of the mangrove restoration on the livelihoods of local communities. “Apart from the government’s target and livelihoods for the locals, such exercises help in conserving the coastal environment. We know that the coastal strip was deteriorating, and that is why the Kenya Forest Service and other stakeholders came up with the idea of Beach Management Units to help in preserving it,” Chief Hamisi stated.
The initiative also involved the local community’s participation in the restoration process. Peter Nyongesa, the chairman of the Tulinde Mikoko self-help group, which provided the mangrove seedlings, explained that the types of mangrove trees planted are vital for marine life. “The types of trees we planted today are good for the marine life. Locals here love eating crabs, and the mangrove helps in the reproduction of crabs and other fish,” he said. This ecological benefit adds to the broader importance of mangrove ecosystems in coastal areas.
Additionally, primary school students from St. Mary’s Comprehensive School took part in the event, planting trees alongside the adults. Jared Oguk, a teacher at the school, noted the importance of involving young people in environmental activities. “The children are the future. Involving them in such exercises shows them how the environment is conserved and teaches them how to take care of our natural resources,” Oguk explained.
The mangrove planting event was part of KATA’s broader Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts aimed at improving and protecting the coastline and coastal environment. With an ambitious goal to plant over 20,000 mangroves in the next two years, KATA’s initiative reflects the growing recognition of the need for sustainable tourism practices that support both the environment and local communities.
