Kenya eyes expansion of conference tourism

Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) is banking on Nairobi’s status as a regional business hub to grow its tourist numbers through conferences and events. Conference tourism generated 14% of total tourist arrivals to the country in 2016. KTB CEO 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 20-23 March 2017 for business to business sessions with the local trade. Collaborating airlines include Kenya Airways, Rwandair, Ethiopian Airlines, Royal Air Maroc and South African Airlines. According to UNWTO, the number of Africa outbound market will reach 62m by 2030. “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.