TOURISM,SPORTS & RECREATION

Coastal and marine tourism is a vital part of Kenya’s economy, especially in counties like Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, and Lamu. Tourism contributes nearly 10% to Kenya’s GDP and directly employs over 1 million people nationally.

Coastal attractions include sandy beaches, coral reefs, marine parks such as Kisite-Mpunguti and Watamu, and Swahili heritage sites. Recreational activities like snorkelling, scuba diving, sport fishing, and boat tours are popular with both domestic and international tourists.

However, unregulated tourism, overdevelopment, and poor waste management threaten ecological integrity and community access. MSP seeks to spatially plan and zone tourism activities, promote eco-certification schemes, safeguard aesthetic and cultural values, and ensure equitable benefit-sharing with coastal communities.