Kenya, China set to ink deal on tourism

The Kenyan and Chinese governments are set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in tourism sector as part of the renewed effort to draw more visitors from the Asian nation, a government official here said Friday.

Cabinet Secretary East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism Phyllis Kandie told Xinhua here that she will lead a Kenyan delegation to China International Fair on Investment and Trade later this month.

"The MOU is part of the deals that were agreed upon during Chinese premier's visit to Kenya earlier in the year," Kandie said, adding: "I will use the visit to promote Kenya as a tourist destination."

In 2013, Chinese tourists accounted for 37,000 of

In 2013, about 37,000 Chinese people visited Kenya which received approximately one million international visitors.

Kandie said the number will rise as Kenya gets closer with China as well as the marketing blitz the East African nation has embarked on to market the country to the Chinese as a favourable destination.