Tourist arrivals slump on poll jitters and economic crunch

By PHILIP MWAKIO

The international tourism arrivals have declined by 12.1 per cent compared to the same period last year. The country’s tourism marketer Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) attributes the slump to jitters over the March 4 polls and the economic crunch facing most European countries. This forced many tourists to stay away from Kenya.

KTB said as at June 2013, international arrivals reached 495,978 against 564,261 in 2012.

While releasing results for the half year 2013 arrivals data, KTB indicated that arrivals through the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) declined by 13.5 per cent between January and June 2, this year to reach 409,130. This is compared to the 473,231 during same period in 2012.

Positive growth

Arrivals through the Moi International Airport Mombasa also declined by 4.9 per cent compared to the same period in 2012, to close at 86,530 from 91,030.

“Initial indicators show that there was positive growth in the month of July and August,’’ KTB stated. 

Meanwhile, stakeholders in the multi-billion shilling tourism industry have welcomed President Uhuru Kenyatta’s recent announcement of additional Sh3 billion to help market destination Kenya.

Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers Chief Executive Officer Mike Macharia said in Mombasa that the additional funding will jumpstart tourism by aggressive marketing of the country.

Over time, KTB has had to put up with inadequate funding for marketing. “This is very welcome news. The Government has shown its seriousness to help Kenyan tourism,’’ Macharia said. Macharia said President Uhuru’s current trip to China would push for the potential lucrative Chinese tourism market.

“The Chinese market is largely untapped. We still need to increase our marketing in the Far East to capture it,’’ he said.

“However, we should not ignore the already existing traditional source markets in Europe and Africa,” he added.