Kenya: Tourism Earnings Up 18 Percent
Source: AllAfrica.com ()
Kenya's tourism earnings are projected to peak at US$939 million by year end, buoyed by expected tourist arrivals from China and Iran, following plans by two airlines from the two countries to introduce direct flights, officials said here.
The Kenya Tourist Board (KTB), the country's state-owned tour marketing entity, said in its third quarter report that earnings for the last nine months hit US$742 million, driven by increased arrivals from the United States, the United Kingdom and Italy.
KTB Managing Director Achieng Ong'ong'a said here Tuesday the international arrivals surge would be sustained at 20% 'due to dynamics' being observed in the international arrivals as opposed to earlier projections of 10% for the year.
Chinese tourists, billed as the high-spending group as opposed to budget travellers from Europe and the US are expected to lead the new tourism surge in Kenya with the planned introduction of direct flights by Air China and Air Iran.
Kenya attracted 1.3 million tourists in the third quarter compared to the 1.2 million tourists who visited the East African country during the same period last year. 'The earnings from the foreign visitors, which prop the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 12.8%, is a direct result of marketing and promotional activities carried out in Europe and the US markets since 2003 following a tourism slump in 1998.
Kenyan authorities received a tourism boost from the European Union (EU) which provided the seed money required to sustain a campaign to attract in new tourists.
Dr. Ong'ong'a said the board plans to concentrate its search for new visitors within the African market, with South Africa, which contributed 22,973 visitors, being one of the targets.