Kenya hopes to use the ongoing world exhibition in Italy to revive tourism.
Tourism
Cabinet Secretary Phyllis Kandie says Expo Milano 2015, which opened on
Saturday, will be an important arena to market Kenya’s tourist sites.
“Although
many Italians and other Europeans already know how welcoming and
wonderful Kenya can be — there is a thriving Italian community in
Malindi — we look forward to meeting those that have yet to experience
the rich culture, beauty, and investment opportunities that our country
offers,” she said at the Kenyan stand in Milan.
Expo
Milano 2015 is part of the Universal Exhibition which was last held in
China in 2010. This year’s event, which goes on up to October 31, will
see about 140 countries participate.
They are expected
to “show the best of their technology that offers a concrete answer to a
vital need: being able to guarantee healthy, safe and sufficient food
for everyone while respecting the planet and its equilibrium,” a
statement on its website says.
On Saturday, Italian
Prime Minister Matteo Renzi officially opened the expo with a
ribbon-cutting ceremony. This was followed by a VIP event, which had a
live televised address from Pope Francis and a flyover by the Italian
Air Force.
About 20 million people are expected to
visit the stands whose organisers say will help to “examines human
history through the lens of two aspects of food production: traditional
cultural values and use of new technologies.”
Mrs
Kandie says Kenya will benefit from the visitors. The country’s tourism
sector has taken a beating following a series of terror attacks and
subsequent travel advisories from key source markets.
These markets include the US, United Kingdom, France, Australia, Germany and Italy.
According
to the recent Economic Survey, earnings from tourism in 2014 dropped by
7.3 per cent. The number of international visitor arrivals dropped
11.1 per cent from 1.5 million to 1.3 million. They are expected to drop
further this year.
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