Kenya tourism takes a beating
2008-04-18 19:00
Nairobi - Kenya's tourism earnings could fall 23% to 50 billion shillings in 2008 after tourists spooked by post-election violence in the country stayed away, the Kenya Tourist Board said on Friday.
"This year we expect that it will reduce to somewhere around 50 billion, that is if all our plans (for recovery) remain intact," Achieng Ongong'a, managing director of KTB told Reuters.
Tourist arrivals dropped to 134 000 in the first quarter of 2008 from a projected 315 000, Ongong'a said.
KTB says it requires 1.5 billion shillings for international recovery efforts.
"Outlook for recovery is positive, we have been through the worst," said Rebecca Nabutola, a senior official in the ministry of tourism.
The east African country is popular with tourists from the United Kingdom, United States and Canada for its wildlife parks and Indian Ocean coastline.
Kenya erupted into bloody ethnic clashes in the first two months of 2008, following a disputed election but President Mwai Kibaki and his former rival Raila Odinga have agreed to work together in a coalition administration.
Analysts and traders say the deal will boost Kenya's economy which took a bad beating.