Kenya's senior officials and executives in the hospitality
sector were on hand to receive the first batch of 40 Chinese tourists who
traveled from the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou to Nairobi using a China
Southern Airlines flight.
John Ololtuaa, principal secretary at the State Department
of Tourism, lauded the Chinese government for choosing Kenya among three
African Nations, including Egypt and South Africa, for piloting outbound group
tours after Beijing's optimization of COVID-19 response.
"Today is exciting for us because it means we are now
resuming full connectivity with one of our growing source markets for
international tourist arrivals," said Ololtuaa.
According to Ololtuaa, Kenya will leverage the Chinese
market to boost tourist arrivals, hastening the recovery of a sector that
contributes about 7 percent to the country's Gross Domestic Product.
At present, China is Kenya's sixth biggest tourism source
market internationally, contributing 5.5 percent of total international tourist
arrivals in the country during the pre-pandemic period, said Ololtuaa.
John Chirchir, acting chief executive officer of the Kenya
Tourism Board, said marketing the country's scenic attractions like wildlife,
sandy beaches and mountainous landscapes in China had intensified.
WELCOME BACK : #MagicalKenya led by Tourism @PSOloltuaa
today received the first batch of group travellers from China aboard the China
Southern Airline which resumes its flights to Kenya after a ban on group
travels at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic#RediscoverTheMagic
pic.twitter.com/NiLfuBk2bV
-- Kenya Tourism Board (@magicalkenya) February 11, 2023
Chirchir said the government is harnessing social media
platforms and exhibitions to market Kenya as an ideal destination for Chinese
tourists, adding that January's launch of the Club of Sino-Africa Culture and
Tourism in Nairobi will boost arrivals from the Asian Nation.
Betty Olwenyi, director of sales at the Mada Hotels East
Africa Limited, said the arrival of Chinese tourists will revitalize the entire
hospitality sector in Kenya.
"As a hotelier, I am so excited to see the Chinese
tourists back in the country. China is our main market, and it is really
exciting for Kenya. I look forward to more Chinese visitors in the
July-to-October season when there is wildebeest migration in Masai Mara (National
Reserve)," said Olwenyi.
Sherry Xie, managing director of Nairobi-based Long Ren
Tours & Travel, said the arrival of the first batch of Chinese tourists in
Kenya was a confirmation that the country's travel and hospitality sectors were
in a revival mode.
Good news for Kenyan tourism sectors.#Kenya welcomes 1st
group of Chinese tourists after pandemic. pic.twitter.com/PrG6urz7z2
-Shen Shiwei 沈诗伟 (@shen_shiwei)