5 000 tourists

Efforts by tourism stakeholders to tap into the East Europe tourism market is yielding positive fruits as 5,000 Russian visitors are expected to visit the country during this current high season.

The expected arrival of the tourists was announced by an advance party of 40 Russian tourist and travel operators who are sampling the country's leading tourist facilities including beach hotels, game reserves and other tourist related facilities.

The operators were at the Diani Reef Beach Resort and Spa to celebrate with other tourists the wining of the prestigious international annual Amarula award won by the resort for service excellence in Africa at the weekend.

The resort won the award after beating Royal Livingstone of Zimbabwe and Camp Jabulani of South Africa. The award ceremony took place last week at Museum Africa in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The award is given to top hotels in Africa with best retreat, service excellence, consumers' choice, ultimate in African cuisine and best innovative retreat.

Speaking on behalf of the tour operators, Mr. Sergei Zhdanov of Olga Tour and Travel, based in Moscow, said the team visited Amboseli national park, Masai Mara and were now touring the Kenyan coast before the landing of their other colleagues in a week's time.

"We have witnessed tremendous tourist products and Kenya is one of the most beautiful and attractive destinations which have the potential to compete favourably with other leading destinations'', said Zhdanov.

''The award will likely lead to significant increase in tourist arrivals from the hitherto undeveloped but now growing market in far eastern Russia to Kenya,'' said Zhdanov, who was flanked by Bhandari and fellow countrymen, Kirk Teplov and Pummy Singh.

The Diani Reef Beach Resort and Spa General Manager, Aman Bhandari, said the award recognizes the rich diversity of retreats throughout Africa besides assisting in promoting the continent as a prime destination for first class world travel.

Tourism Minister, Najib Balala, described the winning of the award for excellent service by the South Coast tourist resort as an important milestone in efforts to raise Kenyan's profile as a destination of choice for both international and local tourists.

Balala congratulated the hotel for putting the country on the international map and said the award would further boost tourism and economy of the country and would scale up the current efforts to market the country within the international tourism circuit.

Diani Reef Beach Resort and Spa also scooped the third position in the category of the most innovative retreat in Africa. This category was won by Grootbos Private Nature Reserve of South Africa.