Nairobi, Kenya - Kenya’s Tourism Minister Najib Balala said on Friday that the 2012 London Olympics, crisis over the date of presidential elections in Kenya and the Eurozone economic slump were likely to cut tourism growth in the East African nation. Speaking after announcing a 44.4 % growth in Kenya’s tourism earnings and a 16% growth in tourism arrivals to 1.1 million tourists, Balala said Kenya planned to relocate its tourism marketing offices in the Czech Republic to Poland to attract more tourists from the Polish economy, which is largely unscathed.

“My only worry is 2012, where we are faced with internal (economic) problems, high inflation, the cost of goods and services is high and the cost of doing business has also gone high. The Eurozone crisis is also likely to deepen into an economic recession,” Balala told journalists.

Kenya recorded higher tourism arrivals from Britain, which provides the bulk of visitors, accounting for nearly 43% of the visits, and Chinese tourists were found to be the top spenders in Kenya, at 33 %, followed by Russian and Brazilian tourists.

Kenya’s main sources of tourists recovered economically in 2011, making it Kenya’s best year in almost a decade.

Balala said the tourism ministry, with an annual marketing budget of Kenya Shilling 750 million (US$8.38 million), was set to receive emergency funds to promote the country's image internationally to attract tourists.

Kenya, whose military crossed the border in a hot pursuit of the Al Shabaab militants claiming responsibility for kidnapping tourists in the country, needs to re-assure the world that it is a safe destination.

Balala said a two-month European campaign had reassured visitors that the anti-Shabaab battle was taking place far from the tourist hot spots. He also said several international airlines were set to begin flights to Kenya.

“I met the Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta this morning and he has agreed to give us additional US$2.2 million for tourism marketing,” Balala said.

Kenya expects to earn US$1.1 billion from tourism this year, and arrivals are projected to peak at 1.8 million in 2013.

Pana 09/12/2011