Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) Regional Marketing Manager Fred Okeyo says the two countries have the potential of contributing to Kenya’s tourism growth as the country turns to emerging markets and the Africa region for more tourists/XINHUA FILE
Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) Regional Marketing Manager Fred Okeyo says the two countries have the potential of contributing to Kenya’s tourism growth as the country turns to emerging markets and the Africa region for more tourists.
“West Africa is a potential market and this is the beginning of efforts to tapping into the market that has high spenders,” Okeyo said.
He said KTB would conduct seminars with about 200 travel agents in West Africa as well as media engagement programs in a bid to equip them with information on Kenya’s tourism products.
Last year Ghana and Nigeria recorded about 23,000 arrivals to Kenya, a figure Okeyo says will be increased significantly after the aggressive marketing campaign.
Besides holiday leisure, education, conferencing and medical tourism are becoming key tourism products attracting Nigerians to Kenya.
On his part, Kenya’s High Commissioner to Nigeria Tom Amolo said the embassy will seek to assure potential visitors that Kenya is safe to travel to, especially building on the ongoing 50th anniversary celebrations.
“We have continued to reassure the market of Kenya’s safety and her conducive business for tourism business and other economic activities,” said the Ambassador.
In order to handle the expected increase of travellers to Kenya, national carrier Kenya Airways sales manager in charge of Nigeria Diran Oloyede said the airline will launch a direct flight between Abuja and Nairobi early next year.
“With these marketing activities by KTB, we will expect interest of travellers to Kenya and the launch of direct flight to Nairobi will come in handy,” says Oloyede.
Currently, Kenya Airways flies to Lagos 10 times a week with passengers from Abuja flying to Lagos to connect to Nairobi.
He termed the introduction of direct flight from Abuja to Nairobi as a major milestone in easing access to Kenya.
