KENYA TO REMARKET THE INDUSTRY IN EUROZONE

Kenya’s ministry of tourism has been looking for 450 million from the ministry of finance to renew market campaigns in Europe to ease effects of the Euro zone debt crisis which will lead to a decline in the tourist arrivals in the area.

Minister for Tourism, Najib Balala said the treasury has agreed to give then 200 million in January 2011 to increase on the marketing budget.

In 2011, the tourism, ministry has always been given shs 750 million by the treasury for marketing but because of the crisis which cannot be controlled by the country and an image that European governments got because of the Al Shabaab war, there is need to market again before being affected.

If the decline happens before the successful marketing of the brand it would be bad because it will affect the key source markets. The marketing operations will help refresh the brand and promote Kenya as a destination in the global media.

The minister said the departure tax which is charged on a person leaving the country and included in the air ticket be increased by $10 from $20 and the extra to be directed towards tourism marketing. The amount will increase to extra $30 million every year which will improve the marketing budget of the Tourism board.

The number of tourist arrivals increased by 16% compared to last year which means it will be a good year by the end of December.

The top five markets have been UK, USA Germany and India.164, 146 tourists came from UK,US  99,329.Italy 77,990,German 56,735 and India 49,218.Uganda has been recorded the top source market  with 36,030 followed by  South Africa 31,355.

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