Mr Muya, who has for decades managed the Lake Nakuru Lodge, received the award during the inaugural meeting of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA), Kenya Chapter at KICC’s Aberdare Hall when Kenya’s bid to host ASTA’s global meeting in February 2017 was launched.
“Kenya has shown its vitality to bounce back as Africa’s pearl on matters tourism. Ebola, Al-Shabab, bomb blast, Garissa, Mandera, Kikambala, Gikomba among other ills had a negative effect on its tourism but we are now showing signs of withering the current storm,” he said.
Mr Muya urged the government to inject more funds to ease the financial burdens currently being experienced by lodges that had taken loans to fund expansion projects.
The government funds should later be charged lower interest rates, he said.
“The government should also consider waiving taxes and other visa charges that hinder tourists’ desire to savour Kenya’s beaches, cities, geographical features and wildlife and luxurious facilities.
“Other countries have done it and are now enjoying dividends from their deliberate policies to help restore the vibrancy of the tourism sector,” he said.
Mr Muya expressed optimism that ongoing efforts by Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala to promote Kenya’s tourism will bear fruit.
He said CS Balala had captured the tourists’ minds globally by his recent antics that led to his being christened the ‘skyrocketing CS’ by world media.
Mr Balala recently participated in a parachuting event in Watamu in the Coast after tourists labelled it as the world’s leisure capital.
Mr Muya said Kenyans must deliberately join hands in securing all areas so as to lure tourism billions that are currently being spent elsewhere.
“Kenya has beautiful people whose cultures excite interest across the world. What of the folk songs and dances that are a must have at our lodges?” he posed.
The veteran hotelier, who also runs Naivasha Crescent Camp, will be hosted at Seville, France during the 2016 ASTA meeting and will join ASTA president Zane Kerby and ASTA-Kenya President Samson Some in vouching for Kenya’s bid to host ASTA’s global conference in 2017.
ASTA’s Vice President Susan Cheats said engaging America travel agents would give Kenya a chance to restore its global fame as the preferred tourist destination, especially with its recent branding as Africa’s commercial capital for the business traveller.
“We have been telling tourists to visit our President’s (Obama) home and meet his people.
“We need to directly engage with the travel agents and tell them Kenya is a democratic nation whose sole interest is to do business and foster development through creation of more jobs,” said Ms Cheats.
Mr Muya observed that the downward trend in tourism has seen many hotels retrench staff while others now faced imminent closure due to bad debts.
The Kenya Tourism Trust Fund, he said, must meet with hospitality members and plan for a revamp by giving out cheap loans.
“We have always gone out there to lure tourists to visit Kenya and it is time the government engaged us to chart the way forward.
“We know the markets and all that is needed is closer co-operation to change the global media hype that Kenya is a terrorists’ den,’ he said.
Mr Muya has been ASTA’s member for the past 30 years.
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