Team Blitz India
NEW DELHI: In a bid to strengthen ties with one of its key tourism markets, last month at Sarova Stanley, Nairobi, the Kenya Tourism Board played host to the Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI), drawing over 150 Indian tour operators to the gathering.
Recognising the role Indian travellers play in their post-pandemic recovery, Kenyan officials are strategically positioning the country as a prime destination, having already lured the highest number of Indian visitors among all African nations in the initial eight months of 2023.
John Chirchir, CEO of Kenya Tourism Board, emphasised the historical and cultural bonds between India and Kenya, labelling India as one of the largest source markets.
In a bid to tap into this largely untapped market, Kenya aims to attract half a million Indian visitors annually. Chirchir expressed confidence that conferences, such as the one he was speaking at, would contribute to scaling up travel agent volumes.
Highlighting the global trend of destinations vying for Indian travellers, the launch of IndiGo’s Mumbai to Nairobi service in August marked a significant boost to Kenya’s efforts.
This development underscores Kenya’s positioning as an attractive destination given the ease of obtaining visas and expanding flight connectivity.
Kenya is not alone in intensifying efforts to court Indian tourists, as Rwanda and Uganda have also stepped up their strategies. Beyond Kenya’s borders, Tanzania and Uganda are actively targeting Indian travellers, with Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhi Hassan emphasising strengthened ties during her visit to India.
Uganda Airlines’ launch of service to Mumbai positions it as the fourth major East African carrier to cater to Indian travellers, making India the third-largest source market for Uganda.
According to Smita Srivastava, representative of Chalo Africa, a travel and tourism company, Indian travellers, often multigenerational, seek to reconnect with their heritage in Africa, particularly in the countries like Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and South Africa.
