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Kenya launches online platform to woo tourists

Xinhua, September 23, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Kenyan government on Tuesday launched an online platform to woo tourists from across the globe.

Trade and Tourism Cabinet Secretary Phyllis Kandie said the makeitkenya.com website is meant to bolster the country's image as a vibrant home of warm people of diverse cultures that has an array of opportunities for investors and tourists.

Kandie said the platform provides an opportunity to market the East African nation as a perfect destination for tourists around the globe, and assured the world that Kenya is ready for visitors and open for businesses.

Through the portal, tourists and investors will access information about ideal tourist destinations and investments opportunities in the country.

"With the continued rise of globalisation, it is imperative that Kenya has a nation brand that can differentiate us and tell our story," Kandie told journalists in Nairobi.

She added that the campaign was initially launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta in Italy during the Milan Expo early this month.

Kandie urged Kenyans to participate fully in driving traffic to the new portal, saying it was available on all social platforms.

Brand Kenya CEO Mary Kimonye said feedback following the launch of the brand in Milan has been "extremely positive".

Kimonye assured public and private sector executives that Kenya's image had continued to improve. She said only patriotism would save Kenya's image.

"As the custodians of Kenya's brand, it is our responsibility to develop and drive an identity that can balance our country's ambitions towards modernity and economic dynamism, but also respects and reflects our rich heritage, culture and values," she said.

Tourism is a major foreign exchange earner for Kenya, which has famed serene beaches that charm many western tourists. However, a three-year decline in tourist arrivals has seen thousands lose jobs, with the local currency declining to a three-year low.

Kenya received 347,398 tourists through Jomo Kenyatta and Moi international airports during the first half of this year, down from 428,223 during the same period last year, according to Kenya Tourism Board. Enditem