Marsabit eyes tourism boost from total solar eclipse
The moon passes between the sun and the earth during a total solar eclipse in North Iwojima Island, Japan July 22, 2009. Total solar eclipse is expected to occur on November 3. FILE
Kenya is seeking to diversify its tourism opportunities by venturing into astro-tourism where people travel to the best location for viewing rare phenomena like eclipses and passing of meteors.
The initiative will be launched on November 3 when the rare total solar eclipse is expected to occur with Marsabit among the best places from where to watch the spectacle.
“The solar eclipse in November is a once in a lifetime must see event which we hope will drive traffic into Marsabit County,” said Kenya Tourism Board managing director Muriithi Ndegwa.
International astronomers estimate that the weather conditions in Marsabit County in Northern Kenya on that day will provide one of the best sites in the world to view the hybrid eclipse — expected to start from the western hemisphere and pass through the Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Congo, DR Congo, Uganda, Kenya before exiting via Somalia in Africa.
Speaking at a press briefing in Nairobi on Friday Mr Ndegwa said the phenomena was already creating a buzz globally, adding that cultural tourism provide opportunities for counties to show their uniqueness.
Kenya Wildlife Service, National Museums of Kenya, Brand Kenya, the Kenya Tourism Board and Marsabit County government have agreed on a joint campaign to drive local and foreign tourist traffic to the county before November.
“Our thoughts have been revolving around having a caravan being flagged off in Nairobi and passing through the various counties to showcase as many counties as possible before it reaches Sibiloi,” Mr Ndegwa said.
Marsabit Governor Ukur Yatani said the county has partnered with various stakeholders to ensure that visitors would have a memorable visit.
“Only few countries will experience this rare and very brief occasion,” Mr Yatani said.
The eclipse is expected to occur at the Alia bay located within the Sibiloi National Park and shimmer across Lake Turkana for 15 seconds.
One challenge facing the county is inadequate tourist facilities with only 1,000 beds available which can be supplemented through camping facilities.
“The quality of service will vary but we want to ensure that come November we will have accommodation for all our visitors,” Mr Yatani said.
He said the administration had put in place measures to ensure security after ethnic clashes disrupted peace in Moyale over the last two weeks.
The eclipse viewing site is close to the Koobi Fora Museum and pre-historic sites, believed to be the cradle of mankind, which attract tourists to the region.
“It is the first time that the epicenter of the eclipse is coming into the cradle of mankind. We hope this event will bring many people to Koobi Fora,” National Museums of Kenya managing director Idle Farah said.
The next total eclipse will be in 2117. Australia, Hawaii and Chile are the leading astro-tourism markets, according to the Euromonitor.
