Tourists taking a camel ride in Mombasa. Tourism sector players are optimistic the industry will improve as stability returns to the Coast region. [Photo/ africanjournalismtheworld.com]
Players in the tourism sector are optimistic business will boom following improved security at the Coast region.They expect arrivals to increase despite 2017 being an electioneering year.“The industry is now better placed to withstand the politics sweeping through the region because the government is keen to secure tourism earnings, encourage more visitors to the Coast and lure new investments,” Neptune Hotels regional director of operations Vickram Korla said on Wednesday as quoted by Business Daily.There has generally been stability in the country in the last three years and government says it’s determined to maintain peace as it embarks on marketing the country’s tourism potential.Government and other sector players have been upbeat tourist arrivals will rise despite warnings by the American and UK governments to their citizens that Kenya could plunge into chaos during party primary elections ahead of the August polls.“The UK is a market that really matters and we are engaging local and international market strategies to boost tourism,” Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) Public Relations Manager Wausi Walya said on Tuesday.KTB has for the last couple of years been on an aggressive marketing strategy promoting the country as a tourism destination.The tourism marketing agency has already signed deals with an Indian film maker and a leading cricket team to attract more visitors from the Asian nation.Tourism players were worried that the recent attack on conservationist Kuki Gallmann in Laikipia could negatively affect the sector by freezing international arrivals.