Kenya’s tourism industry is staging a comeback as tourist arrival increase well ahead of expectations. According to Charles Kasinga of Kenya.com – one of East Africa’s leading tour operators, the recovery is lead by visitor from Kenya’s lead source markets.
The United Kingdom, USA and Germany have all recorded impressive increases including Italy and France. Combined these markets represent over 50 percent of all international arrivals into Kenya.
Charles Kasinga attributes the rebound to aggressive measures taken by the KTB, the Ministry of Tourism and and dynamic tourism industry that have succeeded in luring visitors back following post election violence at the beginning of 2008. Key among these measures were deeply discounted packages as well as dramatically reduced entry visa fees.
The newly appointed Kenya Tourism Board Managing Director Mr. Robert Mureithi Ndegwa announced consolidated tourist arrivals by sea and air through September 2009 stood at 687,664 – up 38.6% from the period in 2008.
Most tourist arrived through Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport – airport code – NBO, which in the month of July alone recorded 83,972 arrivals. All factors remaining constant it’s expected international tourism arrivals will close out at 930,000 for 2009 almost 200,000 more than arrived in 2008.
Kenya.com is one of East Africa’s leading tour operators specializing in private customized safari programs to Kenya and Tanzania. For more information on tours to fine Kenya and Tanzania Wildlife sanctuaries visit.
It now seems that many people who are planning their vacations are heading to Kenya. This news comes in as reports show that Kenya’s tourism industry, which plummeted after political turmoil back in 2007, has finally started to recover. In fact, the reports show that rates, despite the recession, are almost up to pre-2007 election levels.
According to reports, the number of tourists arriving to the area has risen by 90 percent from last year, and is expected to reach levels that will take it up to 2007 levels by next March. The tourism minister for Kenya, Najib Balala, when speaking at the ninth Lamu Culutral Festival, added that the influx in guests is mostly coming due to the European winter season. People in Europe are looking to beat the cold and get to warmer weather.
The number of charter flights going to Mombasa is expected to soar to 30 a week. This is a big jump from the current 20 flights a week. Apparently airlines in Belgium, France, Holland, and even Ethipian airlines are adding flights to Mombasa to cater to the rise in demand
Mr Balala went on to say that he was very happy that their marketing campaigns in Europe and in other countries are starting to bear fruit. Overall, the sector has recovered by 90 percent, and they expect it to fully recover by March of next year. Many new airlines in Europe are starting to launch direct flights to Mombasa, and it has boosted tourist numbers.
Although the number of people taking a holiday this winter season is lower than it has been in the past, experts think that many people will still be traveling to Kenya. This is due to the warm weather and the fact that many may just be looking to get out of Europe for a bit and see the world.
