Stakeholders drawn from the hotel and hospitality industries, private sector and government agencies from the North Rift Economic Bloc (NOREB) have lauded the Tourism Regulatory Authority (TRA) for senzitizing them on, among other issues, East African Criteria (EAC) classification criteria and other established standards governing the hospitality and tourism industry.

According to Mr. Fredrick Omondi, the Director of Standards and Quality Assurance at TRA, their mandate is to regulate, inspect and license the country’s tourism and hospitality sector.

The sensitization focused on enhancing stakeholders’ understanding of the EAC classification criteria and other applicable standards, with emphasis on compliance, quality and adherence to established standards within the hospitality sector.

Participants were taken through the requirements for meeting the prescribed standards and the importance of classification in promoting quality service delivery, professionalism and competitiveness within the tourism and hospitality industry.

The engagement also provided an opportunity for stakeholders to interact with TRA officials, seek clarification on classification requirements and share challenges affecting compliance across the sector.

The initiative is expected to contribute to improved standards among hospitality establishments across the North Rift, enhance visitor experiences and strengthen the region’s competitiveness as a tourism destination.

The workshop, which also saw officers from the county’s directorate of Tourism attend, underscores the importance of collaboration between government agencies, county governments and private-sector players in promoting quality, compliance and professionalism in Kenya’s tourism and hospitality industry.