Roundup: Kenya receives more tourists as security improves

Kenya received about 100,000 more tourists in the period ending September compared to a similar period last year as improved security and intensified marketing of the country as a tourist destination paid off.

Some 655,058 tourists visited Kenya through its two main airports, namely the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi and the Moi International Airport in Mombasa, in the first three quarters, up from 555,856 in 2015, latest figures from the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) showed Monday.

The increased tourist arrivals, which is by about 18 percent, is good news to the sector that was initially on its knees following persistent attacks from the Somali militant group Al-Shabaab.

To fight terrorism, Kenya set aside 2.9 billion U.S. dollars on security investment to improve internal security, a measure that has led to peace, and launched initiatives to lure charter services.

East African nation, however, is doing more. Last week, the Kenya Wildlife Service slashed its entry fees to national parks and reserves in a move aimed at making them regionally and globally competitive.

KWS said all fees were capped at 60 dollars for adult non-residents and 8.6 dollars for adult Kenyan citizens effective this month.

KTB acting chief executive Jacinta Nzioka noted that the 18 percent growth in arrivals in the first nine months of this year showed recovery efforts are paying off.

She attributed the increase to the country's improved image in source tourist markets like the European Union boosted by improved security. Endit