In a bid to increase the number of tourists from India, the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) will lead a travel trade delegation to attend this year’s Outbound Travel Mart (OTM) in the south Asian country.

The expo, to be held at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai from February 2-4, is the largest gathering of travel trade buyers and professionals in India drawing over 1 300 exhibitors from 60-plus countries.

In 2022, arrivals to Kenya from India recorded a growth of 93.2% from 42 159 in 2021 to 81 458 in 2022.

This is a recovery of 67% compared with the 2019 performance of 120 893.

Fourteen Kenyan travel trade partners will take part in the three-day expo, with the country seeking to reposition itself in the Indian market, whose growth has picked up to about 90% by the close of last year compared with 2021, according to Capital FM.

Kenya continues with its aim of attracting the Indian source market, something the KTB also did during its global tourism marketing campaign, ‘The Real Deal’.

India is one of the top five source markets for Kenya.

KTB Acting CEO, John Chirchir, says OTM is giving Kenya an opportunity for re-entry into the Indian market, where travel had been severely affected because of COVID-19.

“India is one of the markets whose travel was negatively impacted with COVID-19. We are now making a physical presence in the market after about two years of absence, and we hope to reap big from the fair.”

KTB will also participate in roadshows in Ahmedabad, Bangalore and New Delhi between January 30 and February 6.