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Tourists pose for a photo at Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, on Feb. 17, 2023. (Photo by Charles Onyango/Xinhua) Kenya has appealed to tourism stakeholders to focus on domestic visitors so as to revive the industry that had previously been affected by COVID-19 travel restrictions.

Kenya appeals to domestic travelers to revive tourism industry

By Xinhua

NAIROBI, July 5 (Xinhua) -- Kenya has appealed to tourism stakeholders to focus on domestic visitors so as to revive the industry that had previously been affected by COVID-19 travel restrictions.The
 Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) also called upon Kenyans to embrace domestic 
travel, explore new experiences, and contribute to the growth of the 
local tourism industry. "By doing so, we not only contribute to the 
growth of the tourism industry but also sustain the food chain and 
ensure the economic sustainability of the hotel industry," KTB 
Chairperson Francis Gichaba said in a statement issued Tuesday in the 
Kenyan capital of Nairobi.The statement came as the "You Deserve A Holiday" campaign, which was launched by the KTB in 2022, marks an impressive milestone, with 108,963 bed nights sold to date and generating revenue of 1.09 billion Kenyan 
shillings (about 7.74 million U.S. dollars) since its launch one year 
ago.People interact with giraffes at the Giraffe Centre in Nairobi, Kenya, April 2, 2022. (Xinhua/Bai Lin)The
 tourism sector is one of the leading foreign exchange earners alongside
 horticulture, tea, and diaspora. Tourist arrivals stood at 1.48 million
 in 2022, a 70 percent increase as compared to 2021. This earned Kenya 
1.90 billion U.S. dollars, up from 1.02 billion dollars in 2021.Gichaba,
 who was speaking during the domestic activation drive held in Nairobi, 
emphasized the importance of domestic tourism in supporting local 
communities and economies. He noted that while the campaign has already 
achieved significant milestones, there is still much potential to 
explore.The
 KTB official said communities and towns have sprung up because of 
domestic tourism, which he said is supporting various sectors of the 
economy. "We are creating new destinations through the 'You Deserve A 
Holiday' campaign as we encourage Kenyans to explore their own 
backyard," Gichaba said.Since
 its launch in June 2022, the "You Deserve A Holiday" campaign has 
successfully partnered with more than 20 industry stakeholders, 
including tour operators, airlines, and hoteliers.These
 collaborations have resulted in comprehensive travel packages designed 
to offer seamless experiences for domestic travelers. The campaign aims 
to penetrate potential areas within the domestic market and sustain 
long-term demand for domestic travel through joint marketing 
initiatives, such as golf tour series, mall activations, corporate 
visits, church activations, and media promotions.  ■
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