Kenya expects 36,000 tourists from South Africa this year

What you need to know:

  • With a population of more than 50 million as well as being among the leading economies in Africa, South Africa has the potential to boost Kenya’s tourism.

  • Last year, Kenya received 30,000 tourists from South Africa, up from 25,000 in 2014.

  • It was only in 2012 that the country received 40,703 South Africans.

Tourist arrivals from South Africa to Kenya are expected to grow by 20 per cent this year following aggressive marketing campaigns to bring in more visitors.

With a population of more than 50 million as well as being among the leading economies in Africa, South Africa has the potential to boost Kenya’s tourism.

Last year, Kenya received 30,000 tourists from South Africa, up from 25,000 in 2014.

It was only in 2012 that the country received 40,703 South Africans.

Last week, the Kenya Tourism Board and some local exhibitors participated in the South African travel show Indaba 2016, which is the largest travel trade fair on the continent.

In an interview with the Nation in Durban on the sidelines of the event, board acting managing director Jacinta Nzioka said tourist arrivals from South Africa were on the increase due to new marketing initiatives in major South African cities.

She said the marketing agency performed road shows in the cities of Johannesburg, Bloemfontein, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth to woo more South African holidaymakers to the country.

The tourism board team also trained 300 tour operators and travel agents from South Africa on Kenyan tourism products for them to sell to potential tourists.

Ms Nzioka added that the campaign centred on local products such as water sports, adventure, mountain climbing at Mount Kenya, bird watching and diverse cultures.

“We expect arrivals from the South African market to rise by 20 per cent this year as a result of a series of promotions in major cities,” she said.

“Our agenda is to market products which are not found in South Africa to give our visitors new experience for them to come to Kenya in droves.”

Ms Nzioka added that Kenya and South Africa were in cooperation to enable South African tourists to visit Kenya, and Kenyans to go to South Africa for holidays.