By: Nancy Juma
Preparations are in top gear at the Dunga Hippo Point Public Beach as Kisumu gears for the much awaited Fish Fiesta Festival slatted for Friday 7th April, through to Sunday 9th April, 2023.
The signature event aims to promote and position Kisumu as a tourism, trade, and investments hub within the Western Circuit and beyond. Kisumu is strategically positioned complete with a lake which provides excellent opportunities for Lake Tourism, Marine Transport, and Water Sports.
While addressing the Press at the festival’s venue earlier today, the County Executive Committee Member for Trade, Tourism, Industry and Marketing Ms Farida Salim accompanied by various stakeholders and partners within the hospitality and service sector, highlighted that the County Department of Tourism is also running a marketing campaign dubbed, ‘Kisumu My Pride’ to appreciate and to showcase the best of Kisumu to the World.
She noted that through the campaign, the Department seeks to protect, conserve and aggressively market Lake Victoria, the biggest attraction and resource in the County. Further, it seeks to provide alternative income generation sources through product diversification for people living around the lake.
In collaboration with the Department of Environmen, the Tourism docket seeks to aggressively engage in Beach clean-ups as a way of reducing pollution. The clean-up exercise was launched yesterday at Wigwa River by Kisumu Governor Prof. Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o where he urged residents to handle matters environment as a personal duty.
A beehive of activities have been planned ahead of the busy and packed four day-event and will include; Boat Race, Miss Tourism, Mr. Tourism, Mr. Flex, Mr. Strong, Tug of War, Photo Contest, Beach Volleyball, Entertainment, Kids Fun Fair, Exhibitions, Symposia, Panel discussions, Medical Camps, and Fire Works among others.
The event officially kicks off Friday with the official launch of “Kisumu My Pride” Campaign and Marine and Sports Tour of Lake Victoria.
Combined with the Easter Holidays, those visiting Kisumu can join the celebrarions and sample sumptuous Fish delicacies right from Lake Victoria. Various exhibitors will also be on site showcasing the best that Kisumu has in-store.
Fish Fiesta is an all-inclusive event bringing together a consortium of partners to make it successful and memorable. Key partners include; Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, Royal City Gardens Hotel, Best Western Hotel, Grand Royal Swiss, Kenya Marine Complex (Kisumu), Osiepe Sango Rescue, Royal Dental Clinics, KEDA Ceramics, Royal City Hotel – Town, USAID, Sightsavers, KEFEADO, Lake Victoria Tourism Association, Sarova Imperial, Jumbo Mattresses, Kenya Tourism Board, United Millers, Kisumu Museum, Kenya Wildlife Service, Wildlife Service of Kenya, Tourism Regulatory Authority, Zaira Tours, Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), Tourism Fund, Kenya Maritime Authority, Water Bus, Kenya Tourism Board, Kenya Airways – KQ, Sema Pay, Vittoria Suites, Tourism Fund, Maisha Meds, AAR, Safarilink, MGF Studio, Ciala Resort, Wigot Gardens, Ziva Empire, Children Amusement World, Versatile Photographers, Pambo Beauty, One Vibe Africa, Wigot School of Hospitality, National Youth Service, Super Squad Production, and Mellow Music Empire, Shajanand Holdings, Agakhan GYM, VIC Media among others.
The partners in one accord urged residents to embrace domestic tourism as a way of exploring alternative destinations.