Balala upbeat about 1.2m tourists target

Kenya will hit the 1.2 million tourists mark this year if the current momentum of arrivals is maintained, Tourism minister Najib Balala says.

The projection comes from diversification of markets and strategies, he said in Malindi.

Emerging markets that the Ministry of Tourism, through the country’s marketing agent, Kenya Tourist Board (KTB), is targeting include the Eastern Europe block, Russia, Middle East and China.

Good effects

“Improvement of the global economy has had good effects on our tourism sector. We are looking forward to doing even better,” said Mr Balala.

He said Kenya could hit 2 million visitors in 2012 depending on the political stability then.

If the 1.2 million figure is achieved this year, it will surpass Kenya’s best that was recorded in 2007 at 1 million tourists.

The minister, however, lamented over inadequate funds allocated to the ministry for marketing in the national budget.

“We requested for Sh2 billion but received only Sh650 million. It should be understood that more funds allocated to us means more tourists, less money, less tourists,” he said at the weekend.

Mr Balala appreciated the government’s efforts in infrastructural support that has seen improved energy supply and a better road network.

“But we want double carriage way from Moi International Airport to Mtwapa. And in future, we should have double carriage way from Mombasa to Malindi to boost tourism in the North Coast region,” he said.

He said his ministry was targeting domestic tourism which is a pillar to the whole industry and largely supplements foreign arrivals.

“We have set aside Sh100 million to promote domestic tourism, up from Sh60 million in the previous season,” he said.