Kenya depends on Obama Presidency for an upturn in tourism

http://www.traveldailynews.com/pages/show_page/30109

With Global Economic crunch and Negative travel advisories from Western countries, Kenya's tourism industry is yet to improve with the introduction of the Delta Airlines Direct flights from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta direct to Dakar in Senegal and then to Nairobi Kenya as from 3rd June 2009, says James Asudi, General Manager Victoria Safaris.

The election of USA President, President Barack Obama with Kenyan roots into the powerful world presidential seat, that is the USA White house, has of late started bringing tourists from all over the world into the tiny village of Kogelo where the USA Presidents' father was bread and buried. Lastly, with the reduction of Visa fees by the Kenya's Minister of tourism at the International Tourism Bourse (ITB) in Germany and the annual Migration of Wildebeests coming in July up to October, 2009, tour operators are likely to cash in on the visitors opting to travel into Kenya, and the neighboring countries for the above tours and safaris.

Many tour operators are making trips to the tiny Nyang'oma Kogelo village in Alego Siaya with visitors. We at Victoria Safaris, we have been sending visitors to Kogelo Village since President Barack became a Senator. In addition to this we are opening the Western Kenya tourism Circuit. This is a circuit with many unexplored touristic sites and rich in Cultural and Community activities.

Delta Airlines direct flights from USA to Kenya via Dakar – Senegal
This package is meant for those clients willing to make direct flights to Kenya from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta direct to Dakar in Senegal and then to Nairobi Kenya as from June 2009. Victoria Safaris is set for the launch and is ready for tourists willing to visit the Kenya's wilderness which include the famous Maasai Mara, Amboseli, Samburu, Tsavo National Parks, Coastal beaches including Mombasa, Watamu, Malindi and Diani in Mombasa South Coast of Kenya and lastly to The 44th USA President – Barack Obama's ancestral home in Kenya – Kogelo and the Virgin tourist treasure in Kenya , that is Western Kenya Tourist Circuit.

Delta Air Lines is the first major U.S. carrier to operate scheduled services to Africa. It has announced it will launch direct flights between Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, via Dakar, Senegal effective 3 June 2009. The four-times weekly flight will be the only service to the United States from Kenya operated by a U.S. carrier and will offer passengers convenient connections via Delta’s Atlanta hub to around 150 business and leisure destinations throughout the United States including Washington, Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle, as well as destinations throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. In addition, this new flight will improve connections between the African nations of Senegal and Kenya, by providing passengers with the option of travelling to Dakar. Kenya reduces VISA fees by 50 % for foreign tourists and encourages Family tourism in Kenya

The Kenya government has reduced visa fees for children less than 16 years coming to Kenya as tourists. The move is aimed at stimulating demand for family travel. Kenya's tourism Minister Najib Balala said; "With the above stimulus package among other measures, we expect that tourism will grow at between 10-15 % in 2009 despite the global financial crisis", He was speaking on Saturday in Berlin, Germany where he was leading the Kenya delegation to the International Tourism Bourse (ITB). Kenya was represented by 26 industry players that includes hoteliers, tour and travel operators. The above package comes shortly after the government allocated some extra-budget resources of Ksh 250 million (2.5 million euros) to the Kenya Tourist Board for enhanced marketing efforts recently.

The economy of Kenya relies heavily on agriculture, tourism and remittances from abroad from its Kenya citizens in the Diaspora for economic growth and much-needed foreign exchange. The announcement of the latest government incentives packages was received well by participants at ITB which is the biggest tourism trade show in the world with about 200,000 visitors from all over the world. Kenya's participation in this world's famous tourism expo was aimed at establishing international business contacts, cementing trade relationships, reviewing old acquaintances and identifying possible areas of co-operation in the Kenya tourism industry. The number of tourists visiting Kenya fell 30.5 % in 2008 following post-election violence at the start of the year. Last year 729,000 people visited Kenya, down from 1,048,372 in 2007 and 954,335 in 2006.