Kenya eyes more visitors from China

Kenya is hoping that the recent introduction of direct flights from the Chinese mainland to the East African nation and increased marketing of the country as a tourist destination will draw more visitors from China, a senior tourism official in the country says.

Kenya Tourist Board managing director Muriithi Ndegwa says Kenyan tour marketers based in China and local Chinese tour operators are seeing more interest from Chinese tourists seeking to visit the world-famous Masai Mara National Park and other sites in the country, which has seen a recent slump in its tourism sector.

The board, whose mandate is to market the East African nation across diverse territories, is counting on the launch of direct flights from China to Kenya by China Southern Airlines and the expansion of local and international hotel chains in the East African nation to fuel the growth of Chinese tourist numbers in the country.