The Government has embarked on mapping and marketing tourism attraction sites in Lake Victoria and its islands in a bid to transform the local economy.
The Cabinet Secretary for Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage Peninah Malonza said a vast majority of the sites have not been marketed effectively to attract visitors globally.
Speaking on Saturday after officiating the eleventh edition of Rusinga cultural festival in Homa Bay county, Malonza said the government was keen on ensuring tourist attraction sites in Lake Victoria was fully exploited.
Tourist attractions in the area include Tom Mboya Mausoleum where former freedom fighter and Minister for Labour Tom Mboya was buried.
The lake also has a huge potential for water sports and is endowed with white sand beaches in Takawiri islands.
Rusinga island where the early man, Proconsul africanus was discovered. The lake has shrines in Mfangano, Rusinga, Ngodhe and Takawiri islands.
Malonza said the best way to tap tourism potential in the area is to market the sites to both domestic and foreign tourists.
The CS said they had toured the area and discovered many tourist attraction sites which have not been tapped effectively.
The CS was accompanied by State Department of tourism Principal Secretary John Ololtua, his State Department of Culture counterpart Umi Bashir and Suba North legislator Millie Odhiambo.
Ololtua said he had directed government agencies including Kenya Tourism Board and Tourism Fund to put more focus on promoting the lake region tourists attractions.
Bashir challenged residents to build hotels in the area as a way of promoting tourism.