Kenya tourism industry opens up to Africa

Kenya Airways (KQ), in conjunction with Kenya tourism board, Wednesday held a cocktail at the Nairobi National Museum to welcome over 150 guests from 20 African countries.

Sunday, April 05, 2009

Kenya Airways (KQ), in conjunction with Kenya tourism board, Wednesday held a cocktail at the Nairobi National Museum to welcome over 150 guests from 20 African countries.

Participants from different countries were purposely invited to come and enjoy a great experience of Kenya’s rich tourism sector through a trip dubbed "Africa Mega Fam”.

This will enable them visit different attractions such as the coastal area and major natural reserves. While addressing the guests at the ceremony, Kenya’s Immigration Minister, Otieno Kajwang thanked participants for making it to the first Africa Mega Fam trip. He assured them that there is a lot of tourism potential that they were bound to experience.

"We expect our visitors to sell Kenya as a destination and as they interact, they too can get to publicise each other’s country potential. So this is a great opportunity for us all as Africans,” Kajwang’ told The New Times.

Among many, other represented countries include, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Mali, Ethiopia, United republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi and Morocco.

According to KQ Chief Executive Officer, Titus Naikuni, guests will get to visit most of the Kenyan game parks. These include Samburu game reserve, Masai Mara as well as the lake Naivasha area. In a related exposure, the participants will also get to visit Mombasa coastal area.

Naikuni also hailed Rwanda’s rich tourism potential especially her unique gorilla species. 

"East Africa has got a lot to offer in as far as the tourism sector is concerned.”

Through this exposure, officials also believe that more people will get to know about what Kenya can offer to the outside world thus boosting the tourism sector.

Rwanda is represented by seven people, Parfait Bitega, Hemant Bulani, Viviane Rwabukera, Vincent Ngarambe, Charles Kayonga, George Gumisiriza and Irene V. Nambi, all from various travel agencies and media houses.

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