Kenya tourism arrivals drop

Nairobi – Kenya tourism arrivals during the first five months of the year suffered from the general elections with latest figures showing a drop in most markets between February and April.According to Kenya Tourism Board, January to May visitor arrivals by sea and air totalled 397,995. Europe remained the biggest source market despite the financial crisis that still persists in that region and travel advisories issued during the electioneering period by some of that region’s countries.The figures show that Europe arrivals were 177,888, followed by Africa with 91,993 and third biggest regional source market was Asia with 49,344 arrivals.Arrivals from the Americas were 48,442, Middle East brought in 21,762 total visitors while the Oceania regions which include countries like Australia, New Zealand and Fiji had 8,516 visitors.During the period, UK remained the biggest source market from Europe with a total 54,739 visitors while Uganda also maintained its number one market position in Africa with a total 17,051 visitors. However, the number of Ugandans could be higher because the figure did not include those that came into Kenya by road.Industry analysts had predicted a drop in the weeks to and after the March 4 elections owing to the violence that marred the country’s general election in 2007 that brought the tourism industry to its knees.

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Kenya tourism arrivals drop