11/02/12, 23:58:31 EST

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KTB in plea to tour operators

eastandard.net

Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) has asked tour operators and agents to encourage more visitors to visit the country during the low season.

KTB chairman, Mr Jake Grieves-Cook, said the move would help in the optimum utilisation of tourism facilities in the country.

Addressing journalists at the World Travel Market exhibition in London, Cook announced that KTB was working on a strategy to promote off-peak season.

Cook was, however, upbeat that the sector would earn more revenue, due to the steady increase of visitors in the last three years.

"In 2003, income from the tourism sector was Sh20 billion. Now it is Sh60 billion. The income has tripled and this is a significant improvement. Tourism growth has been six per cent per year. It is more than the international growth rate," he said.

"We put a better image of Kenya and it paid off. Travel advisories affected Kenya a few years ago, but they no longer do," he added.

He called for more investments in the hospitality industry, saying more development was needed in the national parks.

"We need to see development in some of them for example in the big areas of Tsavo, where people can move freely to avoid concentration on one place."

The exhibition, which began on Monday, ends on Thursday.

More than one million international travellers visit the country each year.

Meanwhile, players in tourism are optimistic that the expected numbers of tourists will increase this high season despite the General Election.

This follows an inclusive tour charter organised to operate between Stockholm, Sweden, and Mombasa every two weeks.

The inaugural charter is expected to bring tourists on alternate Thursdays starting November 15 to April 15 next year.

The charter flight will bring 340 Scandinavian tourists to Kenya and give hotels a boom at the beginning of the high season and ends in March.

Chief Executive Officer Tour Africa Safaris Limited, Mr Mohamed Eltaff, welcomed the charter saying tourism was set to enjoy a major boost.

"These tourists will be visit different national parks and game reserves in the country," he said.

"We have organised for some dignitaries to be present on arrival of the first charter on November 15 at the Moi International Airport," he added.

Ms Lucy Karume, national chairperson of the Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers, said the industry outlook this year was impressive and the General Election has not had any negative effect.

Hoteliers expect to achieve 100 per cent bed occupancy later this month. Karume said bed occupancy this month stands at between 40 and 60 per cent, up from between 30 and 50 per cent.

She attributed this to good marketing by the Kenya Tourist Board and confidence in Kenya as a tourist destination.

She said even after US authorities issued travel advisories against Kenya, the number of American tourists is second after the United Kingdom.

 Printable Version  | published Nov 14, 2007