Kenya targets Mideast travellers

Dubai: Kenya has become an increasingly important tourist destination for travellers from the UAE and the Middle Eastern region.

The enduring appeal of the country's scenery, wildlife, climate and tropical coastline has allowed the establishment of a large hotel industry and a sound tourism base.

It is against this background that Kenya's Minister for Tourism, Najib Balala, seeks to promote and unlock the country's business and tourism potential to visitors attending this year's Arabian Travel Market fair, currently under way at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Balala, who was accompanied by a delegation from the Kenya Tourist Board (KTB), said their major concern at the fair centred on the promotion of tourism, investment and trade.

He said the opening of an interim KTB office in Dubai this Sunday would help enhance relations.

In addition to being a major supplier of oil to Kenya, the UAE has emerged as a favoured shopping destination for many Kenyan businesspeople.

Addressing members of the press at the ATM fair, Balala said the Kenyan government's plans had helped boost the number of tourists from the UAE.

"In the last year we have seen an expansion in the number of scheduled flights from the Middle East to Kenya," Balala said.

Barack Obama's presidency has also placed Kenya solidly in the limelight.

Recently, Kogelo, the hometown of Obama's father, experienced an unprecedented surge in tourist numbers.

Tourism is Kenya's second largest foreign exchange earner, after agriculture.

Known as the original home of the safari, Kenya has a total of 26 national parks and 29 national reserves.

The country also boasts of towering snow-capped mountain peaks, vast valleys, tropical rain forests and stunning beaches.

Apart from a vast array of products, Kenya is also promoting its golfing holidays at the fair.