With the Tobong’ulore Festival on the horizon, a hotel in Lodwar has adopted a cultural theme to attract tourists and festival attendees. The hotel’s new look, inspired by Turkana’s vibrant culture, is set to enhance the visitor experience and boost tourism in the region.
The transformation was unveiled during a lunch event graced by the Director for Tourism, Abdul Lomuria Ekaru, accompanied by Chief Administrator for Culture and Heritage Lemmy Ejorewoia, against a display of Turkana beads and reed handcraft products, meticulously crafted by local artisans.
“This initiative highlights the region’s artistic talent but also provides a platform for local artisans to showcase their work, contributing to the local economy,” Director Abdul Lomuria stated.
The Director lauded the hotel’s efforts and called on other hotels in the county to follow suit to provide festival attendees with an immersive experience informed by rich Turkana traditions and cultural heritage.
“The transformation we have witnessed here is a commendable example of how we can celebrate and preserve our cultural heritage, boost tourism, and market the locally produced beads and basketry to the world. I encourage all hotels to emulate this initiative,” he said.
Adding to the call for innovations, Director Lomuria emphasized the importance of leveraging technology.
“I urge all hotels to adopt online booking and reservation systems to streamline their operations and reach a broader audience. This approach will not only enhance customer convenience but also promote Turkana as a prime tourist destination,” he remarked.
It is expected that the Hotel’s cultural makeover will offer visitors an authentic experience of Turkana’s traditions, marking a significant step towards positioning Turkana County as a key player in Kenya’s tourism landscape against the Tobongulore festivals.
This comes at a time when joint efforts by the Directorate of Tourism and the Directorate of Trade reached out to hotel owners to integrate marketing of Turkana cultural artifacts by providing space to local artisans and displaying decor showcasing the cultural theme.
The management of the Hotel expressed their excitement about the makeover, emphasizing that the set was designed with the dual purpose of attracting more visitors and supporting the local economy.
“The new look is meant to create a welcoming and modern environment that appeals to both local and international tourists,” said the hotel manager.
The manager added that the Hotel had designated specific areas within the hotel where local artisans could display and sell their crafts, providing them with a platform to reach a broader audience and generate income.
According to invitations issued by the Directorate of Tourism, Culture and Heritage dated 5th July 2024, the tentative dates for the 8th edition of the annual event will be 27th to 30th August 2024.
