Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) is banking on Nairobi’s status as a regional business hub to grow her tourist numbers through conferences and events.
Last year, conference tourism generated 14% of total tourist arrivals to the country, and with the number of international high profile conferences the country bids for and successfully hosts year-on –year, KTB hopes to make this segment more vibrant.
KTB Chief Executive officer Dr. Betty Radier spoke in Nairobi while unveiling the first ever Pan-African campaign dubbed ‘TekeTeke’ that brings together travel agents from over 15 African countries to partake Nairobi’s one-of-a-kind MICE offering.
Under the Teketeke initiative, KTB will collaborate with key African airlines that drive traffic within Africa to invite 150 key travel agents to Nairobi from 20th- 23rd March, 2017 for business to business sessions with the local trade.
The collaborating airlines are; Kenya Airways, Rwandair, Ethiopian Airlines, Royal Air Maroc and South African Airlines. KTB IS tapping into airline‘s foot print in the continent that is emerging the next frontier for tourism business.
According to UNWTO, the number of Africa outbound market will reach 62 million by 2030. Kenya will be tapping on this to attract investors in hospitality sector to increase business meetings and development of more accommodation facilities.
Radier noted that Kenya has positioned herself for the opportunity to lure the African traveler who is young, educated, professional and able to combine both business and leisure in their travel itinerary.
“Ease of access, availability of safari options within Nairobi city and its ranking by The World Travel Awards (WTA) as Africa’s Leading Meetings and Conference Destination has given Kenya a competitive edge over other destinations,” said Radier.
She added “We are projecting Nairobi as the next must visit city in Africa for diverse product offering, facilities for conferencing and meetings, shopping, attractions and the most vibrant social scene in Africa”.
Kenya’s positive environment has attracted investors in the hospitality sector to cash in on the increasing business meetings and the need for provision of accommodation facilities.
International hotel chains such as Radisson Blu, Kempinski are example of the recent developments whose contribution will not only be felt in terms of bed capacity but also on conferencing services.