NAIROBI, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's industry stakeholders plan to travel to Germany to showcase the country's rich diversity of tourism products, officials said on Monday.
Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) which is leading the delegation for the five-day International Tourism Bourse (ITB) in Berlin which begins on Wednesday said the tourism sector will reap big from one of Europe's largest tourism trade shows.
"We are intensifying our marketing efforts to attract the youth, the extended families as well as honeymooners who are looking for longer stays and more travel experiences in Kenya," said Betty Radier, chief executive officer of KTB.
Radier said the trade show will give the Kenyan trade an opportunity to network with top travel agents as well as get the latest intelligence on global tourism trends.
Europe is the leading tourist source market for Kenya, accounting for a 36 percent share of the total international arrivals to Kenya in 2017, according to statistics from KTB.
Radier said the German market is ranked at position six and is among the most resilient source markets for Kenya.
By the close of 2017, the German market recorded a 13.2 percent increase in arrivals into Kenya to 49,247 visitors compared to 43,502 travelers in 2016.
The ITB Expo in Berlin has attracted over 100,000 exhibitors from 180 countries looking to get a share of Europe's tourism and travel market.
The exhibition is being held against the backdrop of the improved performance of Kenya's tourism sector in 2017.
The East African nation shrugged off the uncertainties associated with the electioneering season in 2017 to record a 9.8 percent growth in total international arrivals into Kenya by air, sea and cross border to top 1.47 million visitors compared to 1.34 million arrivals in 2016.