IT WOULD BE A SHAME TO ADD
ANOTHER 'TAX' ON TOURISTS ?

I came across this news clip in this week’s Coastweek – what kind of “business ideas” do people have?  Even suggesting to add a so called surcharge to shops that cater for tourists will create a down hill snow ball effect on the local income in Old Town.

Do we honestly think that the tourists who support a very large percentage of the average income of Kenyans through tourism are blind?  Lets all decide to make them pay for more so that we can all cry together asking what went wrong when they decide enough is enough… and from comments heard, this will not take long to become reality.

In the past couple of years tourists have been made to pay extra for:

Visas to enter Kenya

Airport entry and departure tax

An incredible increase in National Parks

An increase in Marine Parks

Every museum and animal or snake park has increased prices

Lets start charging the tourists to enter towns where they are the main spenders per capita… what is next??

Nico – Bushdrums.com, Founder

I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD WHERE
TOURISTS HAVE TO PAY TO SEE AN HISTORIC "OLD TOWN". 

Coastweek - - I am appalled by Caleb Essajee's comment that erecting toll stations for tourists visiting Old Town is a good idea.  

I have never heard or seen anywhere in the world where tourists have to pay to see a historic "Old Town" area.

I think it would be a shame to do what Caleb Essajee is suggesting.

Are you planning to build a wall around the Old Town ? Otherwise, more than one toll stations will need to be erected. On which streets coming into "Old Town" will these toll booths be erected ? How about those gulleys?

I love Old Town because I lived there for years and I like the idea of collecting funds for upkeep.

But honestly, I don't think erecting toll stations and collecting tolls from tourists is a good idea. My suggestion is to have a surcharge on all items sold in stores that cater to tourists.

By the way, the reference Caleb Essajee makes regarding toll stations erected in both Europe and America is true.  

But let me make it clear, these toll stations are not erected on all the highways.

They are installed on specific highways that require the users (motorists) to pay tolls.

Remember paying tolls when driving over the Nyali Bridge ?

Comments taken from The Coastweek Newspaper, Kenya