Kenya eyes tourists from South Africa to beat advisories

The Government is determined to restore the country's struggling tourism industry even as traditional markets delay withdrawal of travel advisories they issued last year following recent insecurity problems in Nairobi and Mombasa.

Currently, through Kenya Tourism Board (KTB), the Government is running a number of initiatives within Africa and Europe. On Tuesday, the marketing agency launched a three-month campaign to search for six top selling companies to promote the struggling sector in South Africa.

KTB Public Relations and Corporate Communications Manager, Wausi Walya said the event was launched during the South Africa trade travel in southern Africa country and is aimed fast-tracking various ongoing marketing efforts to grow tourism numbers.

Choose Kenya

Walya who launched the initiative on behalf Managing Director Muriithi Ndegwa said the campaign is geared at enticing the South African Travel Trade to 'Choose Kenya' as a first option for their clients.

"With the theme 'Choose Kenya', KTB is calling on all travel trade in South Africa to sell the destination and win a luxury Educational Trip. The top companies will win luxury trip to Kenya, which will culminate into the 5th edition of the Magical Kenya Travel EXPO (MKTE) to be held in Diani, in October, 2015," she said.

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The traders will send their confirmed bookings into a micro site with selections of the winners being based on the highest sales recorded.

Kenya, Ms Walya pointed out is open for business and will continue to offer tourism products that give lasting memories. Kenya earns more than Sh80 billion in terms of foreign earnings from foreign tourists who visit the country every year.

Tourism is a major casualty of security threats the country has been grappling with over the last two years. Insecurity cases in the coast region and in Nairobi has prompted major source markets for tourists to impose travel restrictions while major airlines have cancelled booked charters.