Kenya’s Minister of Tourism is looking to the UAE for investment needed to further develop the country’s infrastructure to boost long term travel gains. Najib Balala said that by 2011, Kenya will be ready to attract key players from the hospitality industry in the Middle East, including Rotana and the Jumeirah Group.
Kenya will offer tax breaks and facilitate the companies with land acquisition to build state-of-the art resort facilities. Balala said tourism is very a very important part of the economy in Kenya, since it accounts for 12 percent of its GDP and employs almost ten percent of the formal workforce. Its three year tourism plan to grow the tourism sector includes establishing a budget carrier, and Kenya is very interested in partnering with investors from Dubai. Kenya will host an investment conference in 2010, where they will offer investors from around the world opportunities in Kenya.
