Appetite for elephant tusks by poachers is leading to the deduction of tourists visiting the Country.
Tourism Cabinet Secretary, Najib Balala has some European countries, US and Japan markets, specifically was still fueling poaching in Africa.
Due to the scarcity of elephants,Tourists are finding it easy to visit other Africa Countries.
“We have already approached the European Union Commission leadership to help in lobbying for the closure of those markets,” he said at the ministry’s boardroom during a meeting with World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) President, Gloria Guevarra.
In 2013, when Kenya had witnessed death of around 500 elephants at the hands of poachers, the country’s tourism sector lost an estimated Sh100 billion ($1 billion).
Balala said since that year, the government has been putting in place a number of anti-poaching strategies that have seen the number of elephants poached go down.
“But this is not enough. Countries abetting ivory trade should be told to shut down those markets because immediately you open the market you create an interest for the illegal trade to penetrate,” he added.
The CS has called out players to join hand and woes the tourists in the Country.
“As players,we have a role to play as failure will make lose to our neighboring Countries,”he said.