French tour operators give Kenya a clean bill of health
Tourists walk past a camel at a popular tourist beach in Mombasa recently. KTB is hosting several European delegations this month. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The group of 20, who included tour operators, travel agents and travel writers, were speaking after a tour of the country’s tourist attractions.
- Two weeks ago, tour operators and travel agents from the UK visited the country.
French tour operators and travel agents on Sunday dismissed reports that Kenya is unsafe.
The group of 20, who included tour operators, travel agents and travel writers, were speaking after a tour of the country’s tourist attractions.
The visitors toured the world famous Maasai Mara game reserve, Amboseli national park and Tsavo East and West national parks.
Last Friday, the French group visited the South Coast, including the popular Diani beach, which was recently voted one of the 25 best beaches in the world by TripAdvisor.
French tour firm Vacances Transat representative Ghariani Marwa, who was visiting Kenya for the first time, said she was captivated by the wildlife when she toured the Mara and Amboseli.
She said: “In France, we just watch the wildlife in zoos. It was a dream come true for me to see giraffes, leopards, lions, elephants and cheetahs in their natural habitat.”
Ms Marwa added that she was also impressed by the security measures.
“In the five-day tour, we felt safe in all the places we visited including the parks and the hotels,” she said.
INCREASE FLIGHTS
The remarks came as Kenya Airways representative for France, Ms Annie Cartier, said the national carrier would increase flights from Paris to Nairobi from five a week to seven in the July-August period.
She added that she expected more French tourists to visit Kenya beginning July due to the French tour operators’ confidence in the destination.
Kenya Tourism Board Managing Director Muriithi Ndegwa said the agency had organised familiarisation tours for European travel agents, tour operators and travel writers.
Two weeks ago, tour operators and travel agents from the UK visited the country.
The KTB boss added that Italian tour operators were also expected to visit this week. They will then be followed by their counterparts from the US.
“As part of our tourism recovery campaigns, we are hosting operators from our traditional source markets so that they can experience what Kenya has to offer holidaymakers,” he said.
The KTB boss was confident that international tourist arrivals might rise again in the next high season due to the tours.
Kwale Tourism executive Adan Sheikh also welcomed KTB’s move.
