Tourism to get boost on Queen’s 60th Jubilee

Kenya’s tourism market is set to receive a boost as the country joins other Commonwealth countries in commemorating Queen Elizabeth II’s 60th Diamond Jubilee on Monday.

Mr Muriithi Ndegwa, Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) managing director, said the celebrations have raised Kenya’s profile as a royal destination.

“You will also remember that the Queen’s grandson Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton while on holiday in Kenya. This confirms that Kenya is a royal destination,” Mr Muriithi said.

KTB has rolled out a number of activities in the UK to publicise Kenya as a preferred royal destination as part of the celebrations.

At the Treetops where Elizabeth was named queen 60 years ago, Tourism assistant minister Cecily Mbarire and other players in the sector will light a beacon as part of the celebrations.

Treetops came into the limelight on February 1952 when Princess Elizabeth went up the tree house as a Princess and the following day came down a queen.

Her father King George VI passed on that night and she ascended to the British throne.

Events to commemorate the Queen’s 60th Diamond Jubilee celebration started this year on April 28 with the launch of Jubilee Forest by the Kenya Wildlife Service targeting to rehabilitate 100 Hectares around Treetops lodge in the Aberdare to accommodate 110,000 trees.