Overseas tour operators and air charter companies are now demanding that the visa waiver on traditional tourist markets in Europe be extended to cover North America and Australia.

Mr Arshad Salim, the executive officer of the Mombasa and Coast Tourist Association, which spearheaded the campaign for the waiving of the visa rules, said international tour operators could not understand why the waiver was not universal.

Countries which contribute to the Kenyan tourist industry and which have not been covered by the visa waiver include the United States of America, Australia, Austria, Japan and Canada.

Mr Arshad singled out the American market for its importance to Kenya's tourism industry, saying it was of special interest because of its growing volumes and the fact that most American tourists were "big spenders".

"All these countries, including Austria, are high potential areas for Kenya which we must try to exploit through encouragement and not protectionism," he added.

Industry sources say Kenya's competitors in the region are fully booked and that although Kenya is performing well after a two-year slump, there was still room for more tourists.

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