Culture
Travelling has always been about discovery, and it is through visiting other countries that we learn about the world. Tourism is not just a financial exchange, it is about the exchange of experience- learning about new places, faces and people.
The best way to understand another culture is to experience it firsthand, and this is the true value of the tourist trade. All over the world, tourists seek cultural experiences, from the cathedrals of Europe to the Egyptian Pyramids, from the cosmopolitan streets of New York and London to remote villages in the Himalaya. Cultural tourism is one of the fastest growing and most popular niche markets today.
Kenya is no different. While some may argue that many tourists visit Kenya to experience only our famous wildlife, or our beaches, the truth is that for these visitors it is the experience of our culture that makes their stay so special.
When we conduct exit polls with our departing guests at our airports, we always receive one common compliment- an overwhelming vote of thanks for the warmth and welcoming spirit of the Kenyan people.
A trip to Kenya is about more than just wildlife or scenery- the real face of our country is found among the combined faces of Kenya’s many cultures. It is the people who bring the destination to life, each of our landscapes has a different cultural significance to a different community, and the wildlife has long been an essential part of our traditional cultures.
When you consider the importance of cultural tourism around the world, it is easy to see that Kenya offers more than any other destination.
Kenya has 42 cultures, countless languages and dialects and one of the most richly diverse social tapestries on earth. Yet we remain a peaceful nation united by a common Kenyan culture, a strong, proud people who warmly welcome the world to our beautiful country.
Our heritage stretches back longer than most, and the depth of our history can be seen in the three UNESCO World Heritage sites in Kenya. At Koobi Fora, some of the earliest evidence of human habitation on earth has been found, while the streets of Lamu echo with the history of centuries of sea trade, and Mt Kenya is a biosphere reserve that combines respect for a traditional symbol of creation and the need to conserve our environment for the future.
Cultural tourism is not just about foreign visitors. We as Kenyans can learn a great deal about ourselves and our country by experiencing the broad cultural diversity that surrounds us. Exposing ourselves and our families to other cultures teaches us and future generations to respect others and live in peace.
For anyone interested in cultural tourism, there are endless opportunities available. To travel through Kenya is to experience a unique cultural mosaic as old as creation. Meet the Swahili sailors of the coast, visit the thorn-enclosed villages of the Maasai in the South, walk alongside Samburu warriors in the Northern wilderness, or fish with the Luo, master fisherman of Lake Victoria in the West. Anywhere you travel in Kenya, you will find new and fascinating cultures, and cultural events.
From the annual Maulidi celebrations in Lamu to the bullfights of Kakamega, the Maasai Eunoto to the Mombasa cultural carnival, there are enough festivals, events and ceremonies to fill a calendar and ensure that there is always something new and exciting to experience, anywhere, anytime.
Cultural tourism shows us the great value of our traditions and our community spirit, and by encouraging and celebrating culture, we ensure it is preserved and protected for the future. Increasingly, more and more communities are turning to tourist projects as means of sustaining and enriching their lives. The success of many community tourism projects, supported by the Ministry of Tourism and the Tourism Trust Fund, is a testament to the great value of culture in Kenya. But there is a greater value in cultural tourism. At a time in history when racial and religious conflict threatens to divide and conquer the world, it is only through a better understanding of all human cultures and beliefs that our global community will come together and achieve lasting peace.
