(MENAFN - Muscat Daily) The number of Omani tourists travelling to Kenya is on the rise. The number of Omani visitors during the first ten months of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011 saw a 5.6 per cent rise, according to the Kenya Tourist Board (KTB).
Jacinta Nzioka, the director of marketing, KTB said, ''Between January and October 2012, there were 1,572 arrivals from Oman into Kenya, compared to 1,489 in 2011, which shows a 5.6 per cent increase during the period.''
She said that Omanis visiting Kenya look forward to a safari experience, especially at the Masai Mara Reserve, where the Great Wildebeest Migration takes place. ''Visitors travel to Kenya to have a close encounter with the big five' - lions, elephants, leopards, buffaloes and rhinos, among a myriad of fauna and birdlife species, while the country's landscapes offer visitors an opportunity to get close to nature for relaxation and rejuvenation,'' she said.
Jacinta further said that one of Kenya's many attractions is its Swahili culture, a product of the complex history of East Africa which has long been closely linked to the Middle East and Oman in particular, and showcased to local and international tourists during the annual Lamu Cultural Festival often held in November.
''We are confident that this upward trend will continue since our partner airlines and travel agencies regularly offer attractive packages to travellers from the region,'' Jacinta said.
She said connectivity has greatly improved with increase in the number of direct flights and this is one main reason why Kenya is considered a mainstream destination among visitors from Oman in particular and GCC in general.
''With Kisumu Airport being upgraded to an international one, we could see airlines and some of our visitors from Oman beginning to experience the western Kenyan circuit and our other destinations too.'' According to her, safari is quite popular amongst travellers from Oman, hence a majority of tourists from the region visit Kenya from July to October, which is the best time to witness the wildebeest migra
