Tourists disembarking from an international flight [Photo/eastafrican.co.ke]
Tourist arrivals have grown by 10 per cent this Financial Year the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) has said.
KTB chief executive Betty Radier said the sector’s growth was boosted by yielding markets including the United States, the United Kingdom, India, China and Germany.
Radier who spoke in Diani Reef Beach Resort in Kwale during the Kenya Association of Hoteliers and Caterers (KAHC) annual symposium attributed the growth to the government’s vigorous campaign to market the industry internationally.
She, however, said the Tourism ministry will hold a press conference where detailed information about the sector’s growth will be highlighted.
“In the last five years, KTB has been focusing on tourism recovery by convincing the international markets that Kenya is safe for holiday in a bid to overcome the challenge of insecurity perception,” she said.
“Following security improvement in the country and the positive image building, campaigns have paid off as the international markets now have confidence in the Kenyan destination.” she added.
She, however, believes the sector’s recovery will depend on how the country will conduct the August 8th general election.
“If the country achieves peaceful elections, then the industry has the potential to recover given that tourism posted a 10.6 per cent growth this financial year,” she said urging political leaders and their supporters to conduct peaceful campaigns.
“Kenya is a long haul destination and as a result, travel costs are much higher than those of Morocco and Egypt.” she stated.