Google has launched its street view feature on maps for 21 national parks and one conservancy in Kenya. The move will enable tourists from all over the world to take virtual tours around Kenya.
In a recent tweet, Google said the street view will connect the country to the world.
The virtual map captures 360-degree ground-level imagery, enabling users remotely explore landmarks and park features.
Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala who was present at the launch said the virtual maps will boost visitor numbers in the country.
Data from the Tourism Research Institute in August 2019 revealed the number of tourist arrivals into the country declined by 1% from 927,797 to 921,090 during the first half of the year.
Some of the parks which have been earmarked for the exercise are Amboseli, Nairobi National Park, Maasai Mara National Reserve, Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Lake Nakuru, Hell’s Gate, Mt Kenya and Samburu National Reserve.
A 2018 Holidays habit report revealed four in five people booking a holiday did so online (81% in 2018 versus 83% in 2017). This suggests the shift towards booking online is increasing. Google Kenya country director said visitors are increasingly using online platforms when looking for destinations to visit.
“This showcases the sites that Kenya has to offer, providing targeted advertising in order to reach interested travellers,” he said.
