Kenya eyes Punjab tourists to boost safari tourism

The Kenya Tourist Board is set to woo tourists from Punjab to promote safari tourism in the country.

According to officials of the board, it is eyeing a niche market in India that includes Punjab and Delhi.

The tourism board, after a careful study of the various high end states of India, has selected Punjab as one of the key drivers.

Kenya has many safari spots. Options of hot air balloon safari and blue water beach safari are prime attractions.

The tourism industry in has witnessed a boom of over 18 per cent over the previous year, according to trade sources. The largest growth has been witnessed in the leisure segment.

Punjab contributed 22 per cent of the total arrivals in Malaysia in 2004.

The Punjab market has shown a surge in visits to Malaysia by 26 per cent for the current year.

The state of Punjab stands to benefit the most from those countries which offer "Visa on Arrival facilities" and Kenya does so.

About 24,000 tourists from India visited Kenya in 2003-04. As there is tremendous potential in India, the Kenya Tourism Board would kick off an aggressive marketing campaign in January for the promotion of safari tourism.

The international Airport at Raja Sansi in Amritsar is proving a big facilitator for the growth of international tourism from Punjab.

Kenya Airways is contemplating expanding to new airports in India to increase the influx of tourists. The average cost of the package for an itinerary to Kenya is close to Rs 60,000 for five nights and six days and it includes airfare,accommodation and sight seeing.

The Kenya shilling is cheaper than one dollar ($1= 15.75 Kenya shillings), and so a holiday in Kenya can be cheaper than that in some other countries of Asia and Africa.

According to Umesh Kapoor of Grand Travel Planners of Chandigarh, people of Punjab have an inclination for adventure tourism.

Moreover, a good number of Punjabis were settled in East Africa and so this would definitely draw tourists, Kapoor said.

The world-class infrastructure available at these destinations coupled with competitive price offered by global tour operators, adventure tourism has a big market in Punjab.

PUNJAB ROARS

Kenya Tourism Board has selected Punjab after study of various high-end Indian states

Punjab contributed 22 per cent of the total arrivals to Malaysia in 2004

Kenya will kick off an aggressive marketing campaign in January 2006

International airport at Raja Sansi in Amritsar has boosted tourism from Punjab

Average package cost for an itinerary to Kenya is close to Rs 60,000 for five nights and six days