Kenya keen to draw more UAE visitors
Jacinta Nzioka, director of marketing at Kenya Tourism Board, said that her country is seeking to increase opportunities for joint cooperation in travel and tourism with the UAE.
In an interview with Emirates News Agency on the sidelines of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM 2017), which started on Monday in Dubai, she said that Kenya is seeking to discuss investment opportunities with the UAE and the GCC states, with a view to upgrade the Kenyan tourism sector, which has seen remarkable growth in recent years.
“The Kenyan government is determined to encourage tourists from the UAE by reducing the visa entry fees and reduce fees for those less than 16 years, in addition to providing other facilities, especially since the Kenyan capital Nairobi is geographically close to the UAE.”
Nzioka, who heads her delegation to the ATM 2017, said that her country’s participation at the event in its previous session had contributed to strengthening relations with the UAE.
During this session, the delegation is looking to increase cooperation between the two countries to benefit from the size and diversity of the UAE travel sector, she said.
She explained that the Kenyan delegation sought to highlight local products, tourist attractions and tourist destinations, including the wildlife, safari and other adventures in the country.
Nzioka said the Kenyan government was keen on expanding tourism in the Gulf through cooperation with local airlines and travel agents. She added that her country has increased the number of flights from Muscat to Nairobi via Oman Air to four flights per week, in line with the strong growth witnessed from the GCC.
Kenya is a major tourist market for all African and European countries throughout the year because of its nature and family parks.