Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala led the Kenya tourism sector in joining other destinations in the world at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM).

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ATM is a global event for the Middle East inbound and outbound travel industry.

The annual business-to-business (B2B) exhibition showcases over 2,800 products and destinations from around the world to over 26,000 buyers and travel trade visitors for four days at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC).

The event, in its 21st year is taking place from the April 25 to 28 2016 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Balala is holding meetings with key tour operators to drum support for increased market share for Kenya.

“The United Arab Emirates presents Kenya with huge opportunity to tap tourist arrivals by virtue of its proximity that Kenya enjoys with a less than five hours flight time from Dubai to Nairobi. There are many airlines that provide easy connectivity and frequency to Nairobi from UAE, including Kenya Airways, Emirates Airlines (from Dubai), Air Arabia (from Sharjah), and Etihad Airways (from Abu Dhabi). Kenya has an Embassy in the UAE in Abu Dhabi and a Consulate General in Dubai making visa processing in Dubai much more convenient. Most expatriates are able to process their visa on arrival,” said CS Balala.

We must allow these factors to play into our advantage, said Balala.

Balala outlined recent incentives like park fees reduction, waiver of visa fees for children under 16 and the Charter Incentive Programme (CIP) as part of the other programmes that are aimed at growing Kenya’s

Kenya’s participation is also additionally aimed at increasing the database from the travel trade through pre-set meetings as well as network, exchange ideas and share best practice with travel trade.

There are eight hotels and tour operators participating this year in the ATM 2016 exhibition under the Kenya stand. The co-exhibitors include: Silverbird Travel Plus Ltd, Travel Wild East Africa; Tribe Hotel; Kempinski Hotel; Safari Trails; Wildtrek Safaris; Somak Travel;  Pollmans Tours

Key on Kenya’s agenda is the launch of a consumer campaign #YallaKenya – “Come let us go to Kenya” during the high-profile Conde Naste Luxury Magazine Party that will take later today.

UAE is the principal market for Kenya in the greater GCC market that consists of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.

In 2015, the UAE was the fourth largest source market for Kenya globally.