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(�����������) - Seychelles and Kenya have agreed to join forces to promote African tourism, not only in promoting Kenya and Seychelles as a dual destination, but also calling on the entire African Union to collaborate on building an “African brand” of tourism.

The Seychelles’ Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Paul Adam discussed these issues with Kenya’s cabinet secretary for East African Affairs, Tourism and Commerce, Phyllis Kandie, during his official visit to Kenya, according to a press statement from the Seychelles Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The two Ministers explored the possibilities of the joint marketing of Seychelles and Kenya as a two-destination package and the possibility of increasing Kenya Airways flights to Seychelles.

It was agreed that tourism could be a major driver of development in the East Africa region after discussions at the African Union Tourism Working Group meeting, which was held in Seychelles last week.

“As part of the African Union, we strongly believe that we need to increase and develop our tourism industries to a new era of partnership; one where we work together to ensure sustainable economic growth for both our countries”, said Adam.

The decision to hold a Seychelles-Kenya business forum in Nairobi between the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and their Kenyan counterparts was also hailed by Adam as a positive development that will drive cooperation and trade between the two countries.

On the issue of trade between African countries it was noted that many challenges arise as a result of lack of connectivity which impairs the ability to do business within the region, but Adam remains hopeful that heightened levels of interest gives hope for new developments between the two neighbouring countries, said the statement.