Economy

Tourism marketer targets 0.4m more visitors

visitors

Tourists disembark from a cruise ship. Tourist arrivals grew 16.8 per cent in the first three months of 2016, signalling a rebound for a sector that has been losing cash over the past six years. PHOTO | FILE

Kenya expects tourist arrivals to jump by a third this year to 1.6 million as Western nations lift warnings against travel to the country.

The Kenya Tourism Board (KTB), the marketing agency, Monday said at least 400,000 additional international visitors are expected, building on last year’s 1.18 million arrivals.

Tourist arrivals grew 16.8 per cent in the first three months of the year, signalling a rebound for a sector that has been losing cash over the past six years.

Tourism is a key foreign exchange earner for the country but has in recent years been on a slowdown following the crippling effects of travel alerts.

The US and Britain have since lifted their travel advisories on coastal getaway towns of Mombasa and Malindi following improved security, raising hopes of sector revival.

“The issue we had last year was security ... we don’t have that,” KTB acting chief executive Jacinta Nzioka-Mbithi said at a press briefing.

“We have enjoyed that calmness and various countries lifted their advisories, others simply downgraded it.” The country has also intensified campaigns.

READ: KTB seeks deals with hotels, airlines to promote domestic tourism

The expected growth is welcome news to hoteliers who have been forced to cut jobs and pay and close shop following the crippling effects of travel alerts issued in 2014 following a spate of terror attacks in key towns that serve as holiday getaways.