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Safari News |
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KENYA & SOUTH AFRICA SIGNS TOURISM AGREEMENT
Kenya and South Africa have today signed a bilateral agreement to provide a framework for cooperation in tourism promotion and development between the two countries. The Agreement was signed by respective tourism ministers Najib Balala (Kenya) and Marthinus Van Schalkwyk (South Africa) at the Ministry of Tourism offices in Utalii House.
According to Minister Balala, Kenya will specifically benefit through participation at INDABA Tourism Fair which is one of the top events in the global tourism calendar that takes place in South Africa annually.
This year the Kenya was invited to participate at INDABA for the first time. During the event, where Kenya Tourism Board won the Good Safari Guide Award in recognition of Kenya’s outstanding achievements in promoting tourism globally.
Following the signing of the agreement Kenya will now get a bigger exhibition stand to accommodate its tourism trade exhibitors. Other highlights of the agreement includes promoting tourism investment in both countries, cooperation in participation in tourism exhibitions, cultural exchanges, education and training in the field of tourism, and the sharing of information including data, market trends and information on legislative and regulatory mechanisms.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Hon. Balala said South Africa had a strong domestic tourism sector where regions within the country are marketed as distinct destinations. “We can benefit from this experience and even learn more from the South African Tourism sector on the development of middle level accommodation facilities such as the Town Lodges.” said the Minister
He said that Kenya attracts about 20% of international arrivals from the African region whereas South Africa attracts about 70%. He noted that the regional market is advantageous in that it is not as volatile as the overseas markets. It can help in smoothening out the seasonality in tourism.
In his remarks, Minister Marthinus Van Schalkwyk, said South Africa and Kenya had viewed themselves as competitors in regard to the tourist products that both countries have to offer, but now with the signing of the memorandum, they would consider themselves as partners.
“Although competition is healthy, we want to come together with Kenya to help create a positive image for Africa, so that in the long run, both countries would benefit from the cooperation” said the Minister. “We should stop marketing the country solely as a safari destination because this one dimensional approach will hurt the industry in future.
The SA minister encouraged both countries to diversify into business tourism, since they are the highest spenders per capita as compared to leisure travelers.
The South African delegation’s three days trip to Kenya will also take them to the Maasai Mara and to the Coast tourism circuits conducted by the Ministry of Tourism |
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