Workers in the tourism and hospitality sector including hotels, restaurants, bars, and lodges will be required to pay for practicing licenses.
This is according to a proposed Tourism and Hospitality practitioners Bill, 2023 which is currently before the senate pending approval.
The proposed bill sponsored by MatugaMP Kassim Tandaza, seeks to regulate the hospitality and tourism industries by addressing vital concerns including licensing, training and education, the establishment of a professional regulatory body, the enforcement of industry standards, and enhanced consumer protection.
The Hospitality profession is primarily regulated by the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB), which oversees the tourism and hospitality sectors. Tourism Regulatory Authority (TRA) is responsible for licensing and regulating tourism and hospitality businesses to ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations.
Minimum qualification
According to Tandaza, personnel in the tourism and hospitality sectors require relevant education and training as a prerequisite to become a professional in the industries.
“Unlike other professions where the minimum qualification is a university degree, the hospitality industry will set the bar at a diploma. Those holding certificates will be given a five-year grace period to upgrade their qualifications,” he said.
Additionally, the bill targets to address specialised expertise, conflict of interest, industry representation, promotion of industry growth and competitiveness, compliance and enforcement mechanisms, and the creation of a professional regulatory framework. Local beach boys too might also require training henceforth.
Capacity building
“We should propose that training starts from the lower levels. For instance, many beach boys fluently speak foreign languages like Italian, Spanish, French, and German but didn’t have the opportunity to complete high school. What they need is capacity building,” Ruweida Obo, MP for Lamu East added.
Other MPs including Kareke Mbiuki and Innocent Mugabe supported the bill noting that it is a critical step in reforming the two industries.
