By Duncan Miriri
Nairobi - The Kenya Tourist Board and national carrier, Kenya Airways, will spend 50 million shillings (R5.7 million) to promote the nation's attractions in Africa.
East Africa's biggest economy has been struggling to revive the sector from 2008's debilitating post-election crisis and the effects of the global downturn.
It has halved visa fees for tourists and expanded its marketing budget.
"We want to generate new business from Africa as opposed to our existing source markets and we feel this initiative will encourage growth in intra-regional tourism," Tourism Minister Najib Balala told visiting tour operators and agents.
The central bank said 729 000 tourists visited Kenya in 2008, down from 1 048 372 visitors in 2007. Regulator Kenya Tourist Board has however yet to give its numbers for 2008.
Balala said in March they were hoping to maintain 2008's arrivals.
Tourism's contribution to the current account fell 12.7 billion shillings (R1.4 billion) to to a 60.6&nbsop;billion shilling (R6.9 billion) surplus, central bank's data show. - Reuters