20 May 2008

Virgin's Branson urges return to Kenya

Virgin Atlantic is making a bid to help Kenya tourism with a dedicated advertising campaign which breaks today (Monday).

The move coincided with the airlineÃ¢â¬â¢s president Sir Richard Branson urging tourists to return to the country following the end of political unrest.

Speaking in Nairobi, he said: Ã¢â¬ÅâœThe post election troubles, which were predominantly focused in the non-tourist areas, have now subsided.

"Last month a treaty was signed between president Mwai Kibaki and the opposition leader, now prime minister, Mr Raila Odinga in a power-sharing deal brokered by ex-UN head Kofi Annan and stability has returned to the political system.

"Tourism in Kenya is the number one industry for the nation and visiting now will make a huge difference to the locals who rely on the industry for their living.

"Kenya has been enjoying a considerable increase in tourist arrivals for the past five years with 2007 recording the highest number, with over two million tourists."

Virgin Atlantic, one of the worldÃ¢â¬â¢s leading long-haul airlines, has also unveiled a new advertising campaign aimed at attracting more travellers back to Kenya.

The advertising push, which focuses on the migration of the Wildebeest, will appear at LondonÃ¢â¬â¢s Underground, mainline railway stations and the national press.

The carrier is offering a Ã&#pound;417.80 return on daily Airbus A340 flights from Heathrow to Nairobi on bookings made by May 31 for travel until June 19 and between August 25 and December 8.

by Phil Davies