SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY HON. UHURU KENYATTA, C.G.H.

, PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE FORCES OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA DURING THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE MAGICAL KENYA TRAVEL EXPO (MKTE) 2013, KICC, 18TH OCTOBER, 2013 Ladies and Gentlemen, It gives me great pleasure to join you all at this important occasion, which, I understand is the third edition of the Travel Exposition. Let me first take this opportunity to welcome all of you to Nairobi and to encourage you to feel at home. I am pleased to note that more than 150 companies from all parts of the world are represented here. We appreciate your presence and in particular the confidence you have shown in our country. This demonstrates our enduring appeal as a destination and signifies the markets confidence in Kenya, despite recent tragic incidents in our capital city. Our resilience is boosted by this confidence. Ladies and Gentlemen, The name you have chosen for this event The Magical Kenya Tourism Expo, amplifies what Kenya, a land of prodigious scenic beauty, can offer. In less than a thousand miles our country traverses the Indian Ocean and our beautiful coast, the vast wild savanna terrain, majestic mountains and the Great Rift Valley, as well as the worlds largest fresh water lake. Very few countries our size can find such breathtaking richness and diversity within such relatively small territory. This diversity applies to our wildlife as well. Interesting flora and fauna impels curious visitors to witness natures show of splendor. Traveling through Kenya, is, therefore, a magic carpet ride. Ladies and Gentlemen, This event gives an opportunity for us in Kenya to showcase our tourism attractions and hospitality. It also allows participants the opportunity to share information and form bonds that will enable them collaborate and transact more productively. Ladies and Gentlemen, Tourism is important to Kenya, and to my Government. It generates around 12% of our gross domestic product and accounts for about 9% of the countrys total formal employment. We are convinced the potential contribution of tourism to our socio-economic development is much greater than what we have achieved so far.
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In this context, we, as a Government, are taking appropriate steps to enhance the competitiveness of this sector and boost the number of tourists visiting Kenya every year. We have, therefore, resolved to expand our product range and improve the quality of facilities and services. Specifically, we have committed to promote Kenya as a destination, rather than a stop-over, and to attract at least three (3) million tourists annually. We are, in this regard, encouraging additional investment in hotel and other tourism-related infrastructure. Provision of infrastructure services is an important factor that affects the growth of this sector. With that knowledge, we have been implementing over the last seven (7) years, an ambitious infrastructure development programme. My Government is committed to continue on that path, with a view to building an interconnected country and region through port, rail, road and infrastructure. Let me specifically say we are undertaking a major expansion of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, which, coupled with the opening of the expanded Kisumu Airport, will enhance our ability to receive more visitors. Airstrips in our major safari destinations have also been refurbished. As a result, the tourists will soon be able to traverse Magical Kenya with ease and in a manner that enables them to optimize their safari experience. We are also focusing on high-value tourism such as business conferences, sport and medical tourism. Furthermore, the Kenya tourism Board will receive enhanced funding and mandate to enable it promote a diversified range of domestic destinations. In addition, we are taking steps to enhance security to assure tourists maximum safety when visiting our country. To protect our wildlife, the backbone of our tourism, my Government is intensifying its efforts to lobby international partners, bilaterally and multilaterally, to stop the trade in poached animal products ivory, rhino horn, skin and animal trophies which is decimating our wildlife populations and compromising our competitive advantage. We will complement this effort by increasing the capacity of the Kenya Wildlife Services to effectively curb poaching through intensified and focused investment in equipment, personnel and specialized intelligence. Ladies and Gentlemen, Tourism connects us intimately with the world. It is an industry which packages genuine human happiness and pleasure as a product, and markets it globally that stakeholders connect and interact very tightly. It is, therefore, more vulnerable than many other sectors to global and regional
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dynamics. Insecurity, the Euro-zone, and other economic vagaries bear on the fate of our industry. As we have all seen, terrorism can reverse advances in development and promotion of the sector. It is, therefore, imperative for us to take measures that assure visitors and cushion our country and industry from these vulnerabilities. Investment, robust marketing and diversification into new products and new markets go a long way to achieve this objective. We are vigilant and are effectively countering all security threats to keep Kenya safe. We are investing heavily in our security to protect the whole country. As a Government, we will continue to mobilize international support to fight terrorism. Even as we do this, it is important for our international partners to recognize that negative travel advisories only compound the negative impact of terrorism. I appreciate the key players in the tourism sector who worked hard to raise the number of tourists visiting Kenya. As a result of their effort, I notice the steady rise to tourist numbers since 2008, so by 2012, the total increase was over 550,000. Pongezi to the Kenya Tourism Board for emerging as the Best Tourism Board in Africa in 2012 at the world Travel Awards, a few days ago. I remember with nostalgia the time I served as your Chairman and am, therefore, proud to be associated with you. Congratulations. The significance of your achievement must be put in perspective. Tourism generates employment for many people, earns us foreign exchange, and advertises the splendor of our country. This is the context in which you must perceive your greater role. Even as I appreciate your achievement, I must encourage you not to rest on your laurels. Work harder in order to achieve your next milestone. Exploit the opportunity presented by this Expo initiative, which, I understand has grown as an important annual event in the global tourism industry. This Expo initiative spices up our national celebrations as we commemorate 50 years of independence. The National Anthem celebrates our heritage and splendor. This Expo, therefore, does us a profound honour. At our Golden Jubilee, we celebrate our journey as a nation. This nation, as you well know, is home to millions of warm-hearted, hospitable, hardworking and dynamic people whose boundless hospitality is acclaimed by millions of our admirers throughout the world. They are celebrating freedom, dignity and progress. They are also commemorating the struggles and sacrifices we underwent to win freedom and secure development.

I invite you to join us in celebrating these beautiful people, and to celebrate with them. Your best Golden Jubilee gift to them is to promote Kenya as a premier global tourist destination, and to share with them the delights of Magical Kenya. You know how generous we are. Share the magic. Join the celebrations. I once again extend a warm welcome to our visitors and encourage you to freely partake in the joys of sunny, beautiful, Magical Kenya. I assure you that the memorable experiences you will take away will leave you with no choice but to endorse our tourism products. Ladies and Gentlemen, I now declare the 3rd edition of the Magical Kenya Travel Expo, officially opened. Thank you; God Bless you; And God Bless Kenya.