Kenya’s leading scientists are calling on the country to tap into its vast prehistoric fossils in order to boost its growing tourism industry.Renowned conservationist Richard Leakey told Xinhua in Nairobi on Tuesday that the Lake Turkana region which is home to world famous “Turkana boy” could become a major tourist’s hub in east Africa despite its remote location.”The fossils discovered have gained enormously attention globally and could play a huge role in increasing tourism into Kenya,” Leakey said.Turkana Boy or Nariokotome Boy, a common name for a hominid skeleton found in 1984 is the most complete skeleton of human ancestors that has ever been discovered. Scientists have estimated that it may be as old as 1.6 million years. Turkana is located approximately 1,000 km northwest of Kenya’s capital Nairobi. Data from the ministry of tourism indicate that in 2011, Kenya’s tourism sector earned 1.2 billion U.S. dollars after receiving 1.2 million international tourists. Agencies
