Kenya to host int'l tourism fair to increase arrival numbers

Kenya will in early October host an international tourism fair bringing influential travel trade representatives from more than 50 countries to promote the country as a tourist destination, organizers said on Monday.

Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) said the Magical Kenya Travel Expo (MKTE) set to run from Oct. 2-4 is to showcase what Kenya has to offer as an up-market, high-value and safe destination offering diverse tourism experiences.

"We shall showcase our rich products and experiences to enable buyers get a first-hand exposure of what magical Kenya has to offer before a three-day exhibition," said KTB chief executive officer Betty Radier.

The tourism exposition will be preceded by tours organized for the business buyers to different tourism attractions across the country from Sept. 27 to Oct. 1.

Radier said that the expo presents an opportunity for 211 local exhibitors including hotels and travel agencies to benefit from a cost-effective promotional platform.

Kenyan tourism players are optimistic that the year of 2019 will report more arrivals given reduced insecurity incidences and good business environment buoyed with transformative strategies on tourism promotion and marketing by KTB.

"The positive outlook is already visible in the third quarter of the year (July-September) in which international arrivals closed at 604,690, compared to same period last year which posted 587,385 arrivals. This is a growth of 2.9 percent," Radier said.