By KIPCHUMBA KEMEI
The Government expects to realise Sh100 billion from tourism this year, Tourism Minister Dan Mwazo has said.
He said the number of tourist arrivals is expected to improve because of aggressive marketing the Government has undertaken.
“Compared to last year when the country earned Sh98 billion from tourism, we this year expect to earn Sh100 billion,” he said yesterday.
Mwazo made the remarks when he toured Masai Mara National Reserve and said the expected earnings would have been much higher were it not for the recent terror attacks that created the impression that the country was unsafe.
reverse gains
“We have successfully marketed Kenya as the best tourist destination in the world, but security issues and poor road network threaten to reverse the gains,” he added when he visited the reserve to inspect roads and to witness the migration of wildebeest from Serengeti plains in Tanzania to Kenya through the Mara River.
He said the country will draw tourists from its traditional markets of UK, USA, Germany, France and Asia, adding that plans were underway to diversify the markets.
“We intend to venture into other potential markets.Over reliance on the traditional markets will not increase tourism revenue,” said Mwazo.
He called for diversification of tourist products, saying that out of 59 National Parks and Game Reserves, the Government was marketing only five.
The Government, he said, intends to improve all roads leading to tourist destinations and deplored the poor state of Narok-Mara road.
“The Mara road that is in pathetic state is a blot on the Government image. It is urgent that it should be repaired for easy travel,” he said.
