Tourism boost as French envoy gives Kenya’s coast thumbs-up

French ambassador to Kenya Antoine Sivan during signing of an MoU between the French Embassy, the Alliance Française of Mombasa and six private schools in on January 13, 2016. The envoy urged French tourist to visit Kenya's coast saying saying its security is fairly good. PHOTO \ WACHIRA MWANGI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • However, he urged the government to improve security.
  • Mr Sivan said he was visiting Mombasa to encourage schools to offer studies in French.
  • He advised Kenyan students to be bilingual in order to get job opportunities worldwide.

The French ambassador has encouraged tourists from his country to visit Kenya’s coastal region saying its security is fairly good.

Mr Antoine Sivan said one of his goals as a diplomat is to enhance and promote tourism between France and Kenya.

Mr Sivan said France can help in training and promoting Kenya’s tourism.

“Mombasa is a beautiful tourist destination, it relies on tourism. We are convinced that tourism is an important part of the Kenyan economy and we are fully aware that French businessmen are ready to promote it,” he said.

However, he urged the government to improve security.

“Security is fairly good and it has to improve more. We have to do more to promote tourism,” he said.

He spoke on Friday during the signing of an MoU between the French Embassy and the Alliance Francaise of Mombasa and six private schools in county evening.

FRENCH IN SCHOOLS

Mr Sivan said he was visiting Mombasa to encourage schools to offer studies in French.

He advised Kenyan students to be bilingual in order to get job opportunities worldwide.

A network of the six pilot schools namely Aga Khan Academy, Braeburn Mombasa International, Light Academy, Mombasa Academy, Oshwal Academy and Shree Shwaminarayan will teach French under the MoU.

He said the MoU means that the French Embassy and Alliance Française of Mombasa will provide exclusive support to improve the quality of French taught in their school with specific training for teachers and information meetings about studies in France.

The six pilot schools have been tasked with setting up extra-curricular intensive French classes in order to reach an advanced level course at the end of the secondary school education and provide a French resource centre to the students.

The ambassador said students who will choose extra-curricular intensive French classes will have the opportunity to access the French higher education system and first-class universities.

“Each pilot school will get specific support and regular meetings will be organised between the three parties,” he said.