The Vice President and Minister for Home Afairs Hon. Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka on 8th March 2008 made a passionate plea for global travelers to visit Kenya and enjoy the enchanting tourist attractions the nation has to offer.

The VP said those visitors who love coming to Kenya and those wishing to visit for the first time, will find a warm reception now that peace had been re-established, following the signing of the Agreement putting in place a grand coalition in Kenya.

He said Kenya will soon be marketed aggressively on international news networks in order to position the country as a world class destination of choice.

Speaking after an extensive tour of the Kenyan stand at the International Tourism Bourse (ITB) in Berlin, the Vice President also took time to discuss the challengers exhibitors from Kenya and their German counterparts are facing in the wake of an industry downturn following the post election violence. He pledged government support in the efforts to woo back tourists, who may have opted for other destinations.

Hon. Musyoka later toured the stands of the East African countries of Tanzania Rwanda and Uganda and said the over 120 million residents of the region will pull together to create a viable economic powerhouse.

“We have to market the region jointly and aggressively in order to gain advantage over other destinations in the continent and in the world” he said.

The Vice President also addressed a meeting of Kenyans living in Germany, where he assured them that dual citizenship will be a reality soon after comprehensive constitutional reforms, envisaged to be completed in the next 12 months.

He praised Kenyans in diaspora for their continued support of Kenya’s economy through financial remittances upwards of I billion dollars annually.

Earlier the Vice President, graced a dinner for tourism stakeholders dubbed the ‘Kenya Event’ where he announced the suspension of a proposed increase of park entrance fees, scheduled to take effect from July 2008.

At the dinner, the VP also presented a team of Kenyan leaders, who he referred to as the face of the upcoming grand coalition. Present was the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM’s) Pentagon Member Hon. Najib Balala, the Orange Democratic Movement - Kenya (ODM-K’s) Hon. Kiema Kilonzo and PNU’s Hon. Kilemi Mwiria as well as Foreign Affairs Minister Hon. Moses Wetangula and Sotik MP Hon. Lorna Laboso.

Mr Balala said tourism played a crucial role in the country economic growth, adding that no effort will be spared in restoring visitors’ confidence in Kenya.

The Vice President and Minister for Home Afairs Hon. Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka is shown a book on tourism by one of Kenya's tour operators at Kenya's ITB stand

The Vice President Hon. Musyoka, accompanied by the Minister for Forweign Affairs, Hon. Moses Wetang'ula and Member of Parliament Hon. Kilemi Mwiria and Amb. H. Mutuma Kathurima watch performers at the Kenyan stand