Obama Factor Brings Hope to Kenya Tourism
Tourists from the United States are set to increase as more Americans seek to explore the heritage of President-elect Barack Obama.
Tourism almost collapsed due to the impact of post-election violence early in the year, but it may now see an increase partly due to the ‘Obama Factor’
More tour operators, locally and abroad, will certainly introduce the Obama factor to market Kenya as a preferred tourism destination. One American tour operator – 2Africa, has organised a tour to the country, purposely to visit Kogelo village, where President Obama’s father was born.
The New York based tour firm announced shortly after President Obama was elected last week that it had introduced a 11-day presidential heritage safari. the tour also targets Mt Kenya forest, Lake Nakuru Park, and the Masai Mara Game Reserve. The safari would then head North West to Kisumu.
“An additional two nights will be spent in Kisumu, during which time travellers will visit the village of Kogelo, the final resting place of Obama Sr,” said a dispatch from the company..
“The travellers will then drive to the shore of Lake Victoria, visit the Kisumu Museum and the city and meet Luo ethnic groups to learn first hand, more of the culture of the United States’ first African-American President.”
Besides the American visitors, it is likely that there will be a sharp increase in visitors from other regions, who would also be interested in Obama’s ancestry. The industry was expected to record steps towards recovery by the end of next year, although this might come sooner than expected owing to the Obama factor.
Valere Tjolle
Valere
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