Kenyan tourism is seeking 6.5 billion shillings for international marketing to revive the sector battered by post-election violence, an official said Tuesday.

Tourism Minister Najib Balala said the sector, which generates 65 billion shillings ($922-million) annually, needs more cash to boost its image sullied by post-December 27 election violence that left 1500 people dead.

"We need to be given 10 percent of what we generate as a marketing fund. This amounts to 6.5 billion shillings. Unfortunately we are given 400 million shillings which is a joke," Balala said.

"If you want to compete with the world, you should invest more in marketing," he told local media.

Violence, sparked by disputed December elections, also displaced hundreds of thousands of people and dealt a severe blow to the mainstay tourism and agricultural sectors.

Tourism revenue slumped by 32 percent in the first half of 2008, earning $23.12-billion shillings compared to $34.08-billion estimated earnings.

AFP