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NEWS<br />
TOURIST NUMBERS TO HIT 2.2<br />
MILLION IN 2019<br />
The number of international tourists is expected<br />
to grow by 10 per cent from last year, CS Najib<br />
Balala has said, despite a slight drop in the first<br />
half. In 2018, 2,025,206 tourists visited Kenya,<br />
and that’s the highest ever in the country's tourism<br />
history. During the year’s first half , US led as the<br />
top market source for international tourists. This is<br />
an indication that among other factors, the direct<br />
flight to New York is having a substantial positive<br />
impact on tourism. The current political stability and<br />
heightened security are expected to support the<br />
industry's performance going forward. The Tourism<br />
ministry is putting up a strategy to capture Russia,<br />
China and Indian markets as international markets<br />
remain positive.<br />
HUMPBACK WHALE<br />
MIGRATION SEASON SETS IN<br />
AT THE COAST<br />
Every year, humpback whales migrate from<br />
Antarctica to warmer climates, congregating<br />
in Kenyan waters between July and August<br />
to calve and mate. For visitors, watching<br />
whales in their natural environment leaping<br />
out of the water, sometimes in pairs, or in<br />
larger family groups, is an amazing and<br />
unforgettable sight. Visitors mostly watch the<br />
whales from boats accommodating up to<br />
eight people for a trip costing between Ksh<br />
5,000 to Ksh 45,000 per person, depending<br />
on the operator. One of the best places to<br />
see whales is the Malindi-Watamu Marine<br />
National Reserve, where Watamu Marine<br />
Association (WMA) has studied dolphins<br />
and whales since 2011.<br />
DIRECT FLIGHTS FROM MUMBAI TO<br />
NAIROBI SET TO BOOST TOURISM<br />
A move by Air India to resume direct flights between Mumbai and Nairobi from<br />
September has been welcomed as a huge opportunity for the hospitality industry. Air<br />
India used to operate directly between India and Kenya but later abandoned those<br />
operations. The airline is expected to fly four times a week and will cut the time used<br />
to travel from between 10 and 11 hours to six hours. This will save hours spent on<br />
flights that usually involve long layovers in Dubai, and consequently, South Asia leisure<br />
travelers will have more time to spend experiencing all that Kenya has to offer. Data<br />
released in January by Tourism CS Najib Balala showed that India ranked among the<br />
top five markets for tourist international arrivals in Kenya.<br />
14 DISCOVER EXPLORE EXPERIENCE
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