Kenya's tourism sector is set to grow.Photo/Soft KenyaKenya’s tourism sector is set to enjoy a high number of international visitors by the close of business this year.
Kenya Tourism Board says the international arrivals could hit the 1.5 million mark as the year heads to the end.
Speaking to a local daily, KTB chairman Jimi Kariuki said: “A number of international airlines have increased flights to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi and Moi International Airport in Mombasa following a surge in tourists visiting the country for holidays.”
Mr Kariuki said a reduction of park entry fees, visa waiver for children under 16 and charter incentive programmes as well as a waiver of landing fees for Moi and Malindi international airports could be the source of these new fruits.
In 2016, international arrivals rose from 752,073 (in 2015) to 877,602 up by 16.7 per cent.
Kenya further received 429,749 cross border visitors, putting the total combined arrivals during the period to 1.3 million, a 10 per cent growth from the previous year.
Visitors from across the globe had in the past two months been flocking to the Masai Mara National Reserve to watch the famous wildebeest migration.
“Wildlife enthusiasts have been pouring into the Mara in droves to witness the migration of wildebeests from Tanzania to Kenya,” Mr Kariuki said.
KTB chief executive officer Betty Radier said the industry’s growth has been bolstered by yielding markets with the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, India and China topping the game.
She attributed the growth to the government’s tourism recovery campaigns carried out at local and international ranks.
Ms Radier stated: “In the past five years, KTB has been focusing on tourism recovery by convincing the international markets that Kenya is a safe holiday destination in a bid to overcome perceptions of insecurity.”
The board expects hotels and lodges in the country to register high guest numbers between this month and December due to the calm enjoyed in the country.