MOMBASA, Kenya, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday called on tourism stakeholders in the country to be creative and improve the quality and range of services so as to compete globally.

President Kenyatta pointed out that it will not be useful to do major tourism marketing campaigns if the sector does not offer high quality services.

Kenyatta commended the ministry of tourism and wildlife, and stakeholders in the sector for the remarkable growth and emphasized the need for the sector to ensure that local host communities also benefit from tourism.

"For example, we need to involve the locals and ensure that young people get employment by creating openings for them in areas like selling curios and other small businesses," he added.

Kenyatta urged the stakeholders to partner with the government in boosting the sector by contributing to deradicalization efforts and improving security.

"So long as you make the local people to be part of the sector, you will be helping to improve security and benefiting the locals," he noted.

Latest statistics from the ministry of tourism and wildlife said Kenya earned about 157 billion shillings (about 1.55 billion U.S. dollars) from tourism in 2018, up from 1.18 billion dollars in 2017, reflecting a 31.26 percent growth.