Africa > East Africa > Tourism

Tourism in East Africa

  • Kenya's Q1 2016 GDP growth improves, buoyed by tourism

    KENYA, 2016/07/04   Kenya ‘s economy expanded by 5.9 % in the initial quarter of 2016 compared to 5 % in the same period last year. According to the country’s bureau of statistics, the increase is attributed to a rebound in the tourism sector. Tourism is a key foreign exchange earner but has plunged in recent years following a spate of security incidents that kept visitors away from the country.
  • Bangalore, India gives Seychelles a special welcome

    INDIA, 2016/06/12 The Seychelles Tourism Industry were in India last week on what they called a Tourism Promotional Roadshow that took them to Chennai and as well to Bangalore. This Promotional Roadshow was a followup to similar events but a year ago in Delhi and Mumbai and the aim of this drive into India was for the tropical islands of the Seychelles to increase its visibility in order to remain relevant as a holiday option for the Indian holiday makers.
  • Djibouti gears up for tourism drive

    DJIBOUTI CITY, 2016/02/12 Djibouti is looking to tap into rising request for niche getaways as part of a broader bid to develop its tourism industry over the next two decades. On the coast of the Red Sea and home to a range of incomparable landscapes, Djibouti is particularly keen to focus on the adventure and ecotourism segments. Business travel is as well being targeted, with the country looking to bolster its role as a gateway to the neighbouring 94m-person Ethiopian economy through improved infrastructure and commercial links. Developments over the next decade, inclunding two new luxury hotels and two planned airports, indicate that the national drive to boost visitor numbers is by presently advancing, though concerns over infrastructure shortfalls remain.
  • Kenya’s tourism sector set to recover

    KENYA, 2016/01/30 Next declines following attacks by Somalia-based militants and piracy, Kenya’s $1bn a year tourism sector looks set to for a robust recovery in 2016. The sector turned around over Christmas with hotels in Kenya, concentrated in Coast province on the Indian Ocean, experiencing 80-90 % bookings, up from 50 % at the same time last year. In 2014, tourism’s contribution to Kenya's economy was worth 4.1 % of the country's total GDP, second only to agriculture, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council. The country boasts world class beach and safari destinations, but security concerns over the completed few years have reduced the number of visitors.
  • Bismarck rocks, a major feature off the Mwanza shoreline

    TANZANIA, 2016/01/08
  • Kenya's president sends ferry heads rolling

    KENYA, 2016/01/08 It did not take long for heads to roll at the Kenya Ferry Services next President Kenyatta a few days ago visited the company’s chief office in the company of his Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala. It was in particular a vocal tourism sector demanding changes on the double at the ferry company at the same time as in quick-fire succession, ferries failed to operate, causing repeated massive traffic jams on both sides of the Likoni channel, at times prompting tourists to miss their flights home.
  • Digital marketing by Tourism Board of Seychelles wins record visibility for the islands

    SEYCHELLES, 2016/01/08 The e-marketing section of the Seychelles Tourism Board has experienced unparalleled increase over the completed two years, evolving from humble beginnings with one Facebook page and one website to no less than nine social media pages, eight new niche websites plus a host of mobile apps and online applications. Beach on La Digue Island Destination Seychelles is presently visible on twitter, instagram, wayn, vimeo, pinterest, google+, youtube, linkedIn and flickr, keeping Seychelles top of mind part subscribers to the social media revolution that has taken the world by storm in recent years.
  • Seychelles wins Beach Destination of the Year for The Luxury Travel Guide Global Awards 2016

    SEYCHELLES, 2015/11/12 The Luxury Travel Guide Awards is an international awards programme in recognition of all destinations regardless of size or location. The Luxury Travel Guide Awards recognise and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the affluent travel and tourism industry. Its team of experts have scoured the globe and travelled extensively in order to identify everything from the very best hotels, airlines and tour operators through to highlighting the majority reputable transfer service companies. Beach on La Digue IslandEach year the Awards are broken down into regions to coincide with the release of their respective Luxury Travel Guide. The pinnacle of luxury is highlighted with its continent awards and individual country awards which reflect the range of products and services provided.
  • Kenya tourism pulls out all the stops at WTM

    KENYA, 2015/11/10 Kenya tourism has joined hundreds of other destinations at this year’s World Travel Market (WTM) in London which this year has the theme “WTM Means Business.” The chief of the Kenya delegation, Cabinet Secretary for East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism, Mrs. Phyllis Kandie, spoke to CNN Live yesterday morning at the same time as she indicated that while anti-travel advisories have presented a number of challenges for Kenya’s tourism industry in the completed, it is significant to note that Kenya has always remained open for business. Last week’s announcement by the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office, lifting its travel advisory for Malindi was welcomed by the Kenyan tourism industry. Before in June, the FCO by presently lifted part of the advisory covering the coastal area between Tiwi and Watamu, inclunding Mombasa, and the US Government’s move to lift its travel advisory for most parts of the coastal region last month have all added to the renewed appeal for Kenya’s coastal product which has continued to attract a lot of visitors to Kenya.
  • Tourism Burundi: No entry!

    BURUNDI, 2015/11/10 Two years ago, Burundi was the up and coming destination in Eastern Africa, at the same time as under the stewardship of Carmen Nibigira, again Director General of the Burundia National Tourist Office, a new vision for the country was rolled out and the country was trending in Eastern Africa, buzzing with excitement over new initiatives. The came the powergrab of President Nkurunziza for what most nations in the region, in Africa and across the world continue to view as illegal under the constitution of the country and under the Arusha Peace Agreement, which saw institutions manipulated and key opponents driven into exile before a sham election gave the regime a third term. In the run up by presently, Ms. Nibigira had since left to complete her Ph.D. studies, were Visa regulations changed, demanding Visa in advance, ostensibly to keep journalists and suspected human rights activists out of the country, by presently leading to a free fall in tourist arrival numbers. The cost of initially 90 US Dollars, additional recently downsized to 50 US Dollars, too contributed to visitors staying away from Burundi and the nascent tourism industry took a heavy beating.