South Africa and Kenya have signed an agreement to cooperate with each other in a combined effort to encourage further investment into their respective Tourism sectors.

The two countries, which have also agreed to share data from the tourism sector to help maximise revenues, have historically been seen as competitors in the tourism sector.

However, South African Tourism Minister Marthinus Van Schalkwyk and his Kenyan counterpart Najib Balala said there were in fact many areas for cooperation.

In a joint statement the two ministers said "Africa is truly blessed with diversity in wildlife, rich culture and history ... This is what we should collectively project as the image of Africa."