Tourism show that delighted stakeholders

Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi, was a beehive of activity from late September to the first week of October during the Magical Kenya tourism expo, which brought together stakeholders from around the world.

It was a simultaneous time of tourism activities whereby Nairobi hosted the African Union (AU) Tourism Ministers’ meetings, the Africa Hotel Investment Forum and the Magical Kenya Travel Expo (MKTE) 2018.

In its 8th edition, MKTE achieved enhanced business engagements and in-depth networking sessions. The tourism show delighted exhibitors, industry specialists, hosted buyers, trade visitors and the locals. The MKTE is the premier Kenyan travel event and the largest travel expo in East Africa. It is the proud flagship of Kenya’s national tourism week celebrated at the historical Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi.

In his MKTE 2018 opening speech, cabinet secretary for wildlife and tourism, Hon Najib Balala assured stakeholders globally, that Kenya is a safe country to travel, and that major reforms are on implementation level to ease seamless travel connectivity as well as Visa and arrival arrangements for visitors.

The opening session was graced by high-level global tourism specialists including the UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organisation) Secretary-General, Ambassador Zurab Pololikashvili who also attended the (AU) Tourism ministers meetings. He commended the Kenyan government and promised to help the country attract more tourists in order to maximise benefits. In 2017 Kenya received 1.5 million international tourists, and the SG UNWTO said chances for the numbers going higher are great as well as value addition of culture and heritage activities.

As part of making Kenya a preferred tourist destination, Balala said that Kenya has earmarked to attract 2million international tourists by 2020. In 2017 Kenya recorded a 15% growth in revenue accrued from tourism compared to the year before.

The country’s Ministry of Wildlife and Tourism has embarked on the implementation of the National Tourism Blueprint 2030. The NTB 2030 is the transformational framework for the tourism sector.

According to the blueprint, Kenya will quadruple the number of foreign tourist overnight arrivals to at least 4 million visitors by 2030.

The MKTE 2018 offered the ideal platform for Business-to-Business meetings between leading African products and top-producing global buyers telling the stories of destination Kenya.

The chairman of the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) Mr Jimi Kariuki said; “We will exceed visitor’s expectations to Kenya and provide a platform for building meaningful interactions and engagements between all participants during the MKTE 2018”.

KTB CEO Dr Betty Addero Raider said, “MKTE continues to grow, engage and have meaningful collaboration as witnessed in the increasing number of participants. This year, we have recorded 185 exhibitors up from the 140 that participated last year. Further, the number of hosted buyers at this year’s expo has risen to 150 up from MKTE 132 recorded last year.”

The participation of exhibitors and hosted buyers were drawn from 25 countries across the world and has increased the Intra-Africa Trade among others.

It was an opportunity to access a gathering of Africa’s tourism leaders, policymakers, global buyers, international as well as local media.

“It is hard to beat the ease and price of a Kenyan holiday package and the local flavour in which we found a way to get the best of both worlds in Kenya”, said Mr Charles Mwanisawa, an exhibitor from a Nasikia Tanzania chain of Camps based in Arusha.

Email: [email protected]