After the post-election crisis and subsequent tourism slump earlier
this year, the Kenyan tourism industry is waiting with bated breath for
positive spin-off effects from last week’s US elections.

An outbreak of violence early 2008 resulted in a major slump in
Kenya’s tourism industry, contributing to a 30 per cent loss in the
third quarter tourism earnings. This badly hurt the east African
nation’s economy, where tourism is traditionally the country’s second
largest hard currency earner and contributes greatly to east Africa’s
biggest economy.

The government quickly formed a coalition to contain the outbreak
and appease Kenyan citizens. Since then, the country has been restored
to its original state of peace and stability, yet the tourism industry
is still working hard to encourage tourists back to the country.

In 2007, Kenya earned $620 million in the third quarter from
tourists drawn to its white beaches and adventurous game parks.
Officials expect this year’s total earnings will reach only $665
million, representing a 23 per cent decline in earnings. This quarter,
Britons made up the biggest number of visitors with 42,763 arrivals,
while the United States and Italy were second and third with 25,000 and
13,000 respectively. During the first nine months of this year, 25,000
Americans visited Kenya, which is down from more than 100,000 in 2007,
according to the KTB.

Last week, Kenyans heartily celebrated Barack Obama’s victory with
visions of hope for their country; it is hoped his family ties to the
country will not only positively influence America’s foreign policy in
the region, but also raise the profile of Kenyan tourism in America and
around the world.

"This is a momentous day not only in the history of the United
States of America, but also for us in Kenya. The victory of Senator
Obama is our own victory because of his roots here in Kenya. As a
country, we are full of pride for his success," Kenyan President Mwai
Kibaki said in a statement.

The Kenya Tourist Board (KTB) said it would be capitalising on the
President-elect’s Kenyan heritage, who was born to a white American
mother and a Kenyan father from Kogelo, a small rural village in
western Kenya.

"We’ll be looking at our strategy for marketing so that we give
greater attention to the U.S. market to respond to the greater
attention and interest being shown," Jake Grieves-Cook, chair of the
KTB, told Reuters.

"It has very positive implications for tourism. Kenya now is in the
spotlight internationally. We are bound to see an increased interest in
Kenya," he added.

Since Obama’s election victory, Kogelo has revelled in immediate
upgrades to electricity and roads, while Obama’s grandmother has had
tightened security at her home. It is expected that Americans visiting
Kenya would now include the small town in their holiday itinerary.

Nationals from the USA (and the European Union) need to apply for a
90-day temporary Kenyan visa to visit the country. Although visitors
from these countries can buy temporary visas at the port of entry to
Kenya, it is recommended to applying before travelling to the country
is recommended to avoid the risk of being denied a visa, as some
applications can be rejected at customs.