Kenyan deputy president urges "domestic tourism" in Africa nations

A three-day conference on East Africa's tourism kicked off Friday in Kenya's coastal city of Mombasa, with Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto urging African nations to develop "domestic tourism".

The East Africa Tourism Development Forum brought together 250 participants from 10 countries including tourism ministers from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Seychelles.

It aims to explore ways of unlocking East Africa's tourism potential through the creation of a "joint marketing platform".

In his opening remarks, Ruto called on African countries to encourage domestic tourism as a measure to promote the sector.

Ruto said tourists should not be viewed only as those "from outside the continent".

"Gone are the days when safari was the exclusive domain of the wealthy western visitor," said Ruto.

He said Africans are "essential and fast growing elements" for the tourism industry.

"We must make our experience attractive and accessible to our own people, to the people of East Africa, and fellow Africans," he said.

The number of visitors coming to Kenya from African countries in the first half of this year has increased compared with last year. They were mainly from West Africa with 6,255 Nigerian tourists and 2,838 Ghanaian tourists recorded, according to Ruto. Endit