THE AFRICAN BUSINESS FORTUNE MAGAZINE ISSUE #006 The African Business Fortune Magazine | Page 32

THE AFRICAN BUSINESS FORTUNE - TOURISM

Kenya’s tourism industry looking up
By Monica Muema

T

he number of tourist arrivals in
the country has increased by 18
per cent since the start of the year
as industry players ramp up promotions
to make up for falling numbers from traditional source markets in Europe.
Cabinet Secretary for Tourism Najib
Balala said last month that the industry
is further projecting a growth of between
20 per cent and 30 percent increase in
the summer season, renewing hopes of
the sector’s recovery this year.
“We have been seeing growth since
the start of the year and we are already
projecting a further increase in the summer season of between 20 per cent and
30 per cent,” said Balala during an InterMinisterial Tourism Stakeholder’s Forum in Nairobi.
The industry had been held back in
the last three years, mainly due to terror
attacks and travel advisories which led
to a sharp dip in tourist arrivals.
Tourists arriving at the two main airports namely, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Moi International Airport dropped by 13 per cent to 748, 771
last year, a sharp contrast of 1.26 million
tourist arrivals registered in 2012, the
best year for the industry.
The industry recorded Sh87billion in
earnings in 2015.
Balala said the ministry in collaboration with its marketing arm Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) will now embark on
the implementation of seven key resolutions reached during a roundtable meeting, which identified a number of issues
impacting the sector and recommended
mitigating measures.
Key among the resolutions include
pricing of tourism products and services, a review of open sky policy as well
as setting up a taskforce to look into
security threats and will be done in collaboration with Inspector of police and
representation of the private sector.
“A team to monitor levels of travel advisories will also be constituted to constantly advise the government on their
tonality and to necessitate government
proactive engagement with foreign embassies on necessary action,” he said.
Also on the cards include a plan to
persuade Kenya Airways and the Tourism Industry have an ‘interface’ that will

Cabinet Secretary for Tourism Najib Balala Jump Off a Plane Flying 11,000
Feet High

see the national carrier put in place incentives in order to open up other hubs
in the region in an effort to boost tourist
numbers.
“Recovery does not happen overnight,
we have a two-year plan which shall be
evaluated upon its completion to see the
progress we have made. KQ also need to
do a lot to get the support from the coun-

32 THE AFRICAN BUSINESS FORTUNE MAY - JUNE 2016

try,” said the CS.
Meanwhile the CS has expressed confidence that the ministry will in the next
financial year receive the Sh3billion recovery fund initially declined by the treasury, expected to be used in marketing
Kenya as a tourism destination.