Kenya continued to display a show of renewed vigour in the tourism sector as more congratulatory messages streamed in in support of the government’s efforts towards revamping the sector.
At the climax of the ITB fair that was held from March 9 to 12 in Berlin, hundreds of participants flocked the Kenyan stand to learn more about the recent incentives announced by the government to aide in the recovery of the tourism sector.
Over 42 exhibitors drawn from hotels, airlines and tour operators displayed some of the very best deals from Kenya.
Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala who led Kenyan delegation to the event has participated in Panel discussions where he has given an impressive picture of the return of the country’s tourism industry after nearly two years of dismal performance in tourism arrivals.
“Yes we have been bruised as a country, but we are now back,” he said.
Balala took the opportunity to outline to the world some of the incentives that the government has put in place to help the growth of the industry in Kenya.
Top on the incentives was the fact that the government was now working on the repair of the Maasai Mara –Narok road to ensure a constant flow of tourists to the Mara.
It was good news to the exhibitors who were informed that the Standard gauge railway will be operational from June 2017 .
Balala said this will reduce the time taken on the road from Mombasa to Nairobi.
While encouraging Germans to increase their numbers to Kenya, Balala said: “Kenya is not the Kenya that you knew before, things are changing and changing for the better.”
Other incentives that the CS announced include the scrapping of the visa fees for children under 16 years .
This, he said, is aimed at promoting family travel to Kenya.
While acknowledging the fact that Kenya has suffered in the last two years as a result of reduced tourist numbers to Kenya, Balala appealed to Western countries to consider giving accurate and responsible travel advisories against Kenya
“We had a decline of 40 per cent tourist arrivals in Kenya as a result of the travel advisories. Don’t punish us twice,” he said.
The CS who was accompanied by the Ministry’s Principal Secretary expressed optimism that the negotiations he has had with the European market will bear fruits in the near future.