Kenya plans to woo more tourists from global travel market

Kenya's tourism promoters said Sunday they plan to use the World Travel Market (WTM) that will kick off Monday in Britain to market the east African nation as a tourist destination to attract more visitors.

Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) said the country's tourism fraternity, led by Cabinet Secretary for East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism Phyllis Kandie, will join other industry players in London for the 35th World Travel Market.

"We will be in London to let the world know that Kenya is open for business and position Kenya as the ultimate holiday destination to instill desire to visit and rebuild confidence to sell amongst the trade," KTB managing director Muriithi Ndegwa said in a statement issued in Nairobi.

Tourism is the second largest source of foreign exchange revenue for Kenya after tea, with the main tourist attractions being photo safaris through 19 national parks and game reserves, though the country has been diversifying to other areas like eco- tourism, conference tourism and cultural tourism.

About 46 industry players will exhibit along with KTB at the four-day global travel event.

Ndegwa said KTB will focus this year on education, recovery and getting tourism back on track following recent insecurity incidents in the country so as to rebuild confidence to sell amongst the trade.

Kenya's tourist arrivals dropped by 7 percent in 2013 compared to the previous year as a result of terrorism. The foreign tourist arrivals that year reached 860,000 against a target of 925,000, according to KTB.

KTB will also host the inaugural East Africa Festival on Nov. 5, which will bring together Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda to showcase what the region has to offer in terms of food, music and culture. The festival is part of the three countries working together to promote the East Africa single visa that was launched earlier in the year.

WTM is one of the key events that KTB participates in annually. The event draws thousands of trade buyers, exhibitors, media and delegates from across the world.

It attracted over 50,000 delegates and over 4,000 exhibitors during the four days event in 2013.

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