Kenya has kicked off a tourism marketing campaign in West Africa by reaching out to travel agents in different regions in Ghana and Nigeria. According to regional Marketing, Mr. Fred Okenya, Ghana, Rwanda, and Nigeria are potential markets for Kenya’s tourism growth. According to Basudde paul, a senior tour consultant from African jungle Adventures ltd argues that more tourists from gorilla tracking in Rwanda, always yearn to supplement their safaris with the view of tree climbing lions of Masai Mara in Kenya.

He added that Kenya Tourism Board would conduct seminars with about 200 travel agents in West Africa as well as media engagement programs in a bid to equip them with information on Kenya’s tourism products.

Last year Ghana and Nigeria recorded about 23,000 arrivals to Kenya; a figure Okeyo says will be increased significantly after the aggressive marketing campaign. Besides holiday leisure, education, conferencing and medical tourism are becoming key tourism products attracting Nigerians to Kenya.

On his part, Kenya’s High Commissioner to Nigeria Tom Amolo said the embassy will seek to assure potential visitors that Kenya is safe to travel to, especially building on the ongoing 50th-anniversary celebrations. “We have continued to reassure the market of Kenya’s safety and her conducive business for tourism business and other economic activities,” said the Ambassador.

In an attempt to increase the tourists to Kenya, national carrier Kenya Airways sales manager in charge of Nigeria Diran Oloyede said the airline will launch a direct flight between Abuja and Nairobi early next year. “With these marketing activities by Kenya Tourism Board, we will expect interest of travelers to Kenya and the launch of direct flight to Nairobi will come in handy,” says Oloyede.

Currently, Kenya Airways flies to Lagos 10 times a week with passengers from Abuja flying to Lagos to connect to Nairobi. He termed the introduction of a direct flight from Abuja to Nairobi as a major milestone in easing access to Kenya.

Kenya is one of the East African countries with a more developed tourism sector. It has more than ten National parks like Amboseli National Park, Arabuko Sokoke National Park, Hells Gate, and Mount Longonot National Parks, Kora National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park, Marsabit National Park, Meru National Park, Mount Kenya National Park, Mount Elgon National Park, Nairobi National Park, Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park, Ruma National Park, Saiwa Swamp National Park, Sibiloi National Park, Tsavo East National Park, Tsavo West National Park, and other game reserves. To that note, however, the country has a variety of tourist destinations and attractions.