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NAIROBI BOASTS EAST AFRICAN CONFERENCING AND TOURISM NETWORKING

Rated among the most prominent cities in Africa and the hub of East Africa’s tourism, the Kenyan capital city of Nairobi is set to bring the world to Kenya and Africa with new hopes of raising the regional tourism profile this year.

Standing as a home to thousands of Kenyan businesses and over 100 major international companies and organizations comprised of high-class tourist hotels and holiday resorts, Nairobi will this year host some high-profile gatherings, one among them, the 40th Africa Travel Association (ATA) Congress in November this year.

eTurboNews is a media partner for this key event.

Reports said the coming of the American President, Barack Obama, at the end of this month and the planned visit by Pope Francis in November and the ATA Congress, are the milestone events which the African continent will observe before the end of this year.

Kenyan media reports quoted various sources rating Nairobi as Africa’s leading center for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events (MICE). The coming of Obama to Kenya will see this African safari destination inviting a big number of the American presidential entourage to the big, international hotels in Nairobi.

The planned visit by Pope Francis in Nairobi is another testimonial of Kenya’s ranking profile among African states. Reports said the pontifical visit to Kenya would pull thousands of tourists and the global media to Nairobi.

The Pope’s planned visit is scheduled the same month when 300-plus delegates from all corners of the world will be meeting in the Kenya capital to participate in the ATA Congress, Africa’s high-profile tourism networking and marketing forum.

ATA was established at the Kenyan capital in 1975 as a non-profit international travel event with a mission to promote travel, tourism, and transport to and within Africa, and to strengthen intra-Africa partnerships.

The association serves both the public and private travel and tourism sectors, targeting international marketing networking for African countries, while connecting international travel and tourist industry players in the United States and African counterparts including government tourism ministries, tourism bodies, regional travel associations, tourism boards, wildlife conservation trustees, and airlines, among others.

Kenya offers an abundance of wildlife opportunities, as well as an astonishing diversity of landscapes and cultures. As the East African hub for tourism and air transport business, the country is known for its excellent domestic travel infrastructure and the wide range of tourism activities and services it provides for its visitors.

From tropical forests and beaches to vast deserts and majestic mountains, tourists in Kenya can experience a different safari every day.

ATA Congresses provide a unique networking, learning, and agenda-shaping platform for Africa tourism stakeholders with partnerships to counterparts from the United States, Europe, and Asia.

The 2015 program will include a line-up of educational and professional development sessions; a Tourism Ministers’ Roundtable; sessions to Meet the Ministers, Meet the Media, and Africa Meets the World, where buyers and suppliers will meet; visits to Nairobi’s top sites; and a range of networking events, including a Kenya Culture Night and ATA Awards.

“Our partnership with ATA is very important as the US remains a significant source market for Kenya. The Kenya tourism industry is looking forward to welcoming ATA delegates for a successful conference in November to highlight all the country has to offer,” said Hon. Phyllis Kandie, Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of East African Affairs, Commerce, and Tourism.

KENYA WILL HOST MAJOR AFRICAN TOURISM EVENT IN NOVEMBER

Mar 22, 2015

NAIROBI, Kenya - Kenya will host the Africa Travel Association (ATA) Congress in November this year.

The congress brings together key players in the tourism travel industry from Africa and the world.

Speaking at his Karen Office Deputy President William Ruto said the opportunity would help promote the country's tourism.

He said the Government had put in place enough security measures to contain acts of lawlessness including terrorism, which had greatly affected the tourism industry.

"We should not allow terrorism to discourage tourists from visiting this great country. Terrorism and extremists are not unique to Kenya. This is a global issue which requires global efforts to tackle," he said.

Ruto challenged both local and international media in the country to avoid focusing on trivialities and instead highlight positive gains realized by the governments in the fight against terrorism.

"Let's avoid negative perception of the country and Africa as whole. This situation has come as a result of misinformation or lack of information about the continent," he said.

The DP said the government was committed to making Kenya the preferred tourist destination in Africa by vigorously campaigning to boost the country's image abroad.

Cabinet Secretary East Africa, Commerce and Tourism, Phyllis Kandie who was also present said the ministry was doing everything possible to make the congress a success.

She said such initiatives would ensure the country promotes the tourism sector.

"The ministry is looking forward to this congress in Nairobi for the second time. We will have an opportunity to showcase them (guests) our tourists’ sites," said Kandie.

She said the ministry wants to send the right signal to the world that Kenya is safe and remains the best preferred tourism destination in the world.

The CS said the ministry was also participating with United States based ATA to market Kenya through road shows in the US streets in the coming months in order to penetrate their lucrative tourists markets.

She said about 115,000 tourists visit the country every year mostly in Safaris and for cultural events.

Kandie said the ministry would also use the unveiling of the Turkana Boy slated for later this month to also popularize Kenya as origin of mankind telling tourists, 'welcome home'.

KENYA TARGETS INDIAN AND AUSTRALIAN TOURISTS

Jan 18, 2015

NAIROBI, Kenya - Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) has embarked on a reassurance campaign to woo more tourists from India and Australia. A statement by the tourism marketer says the media sessions will assure the various tourism markets that Kenya is safe to visit and invest.

KTB Managing Director Muriithi Ndegwa told Indian stakeholders in New Delhi that travelling to Kenya is still safe.”The Government has taken adequate precautionary measures and there is no restriction to travel to holiday destination resorts at the Coast, Maasai Mara, Amboseli, Mt Kenya and Laikipia for both safari and wildlife excursions,” he said.

He noted that Kenya is blessed with breathtaking scenery, wildlife and an array of culture in addition to exquisite cuisine and hospitable people. Ndegwa noted that despite various concerns, the fall in India’s tourist arrivals during the January–September period was less by five per cent.

More than 42,910 Indian tourists visited Kenya in the first nine months of 2014. KTB maintains that India is still the biggest market in Asia for Kenya and fifth largest source market into Kenya globally.

“Kenya is coming up with various promotions and activities to highlight the local destinations in the Indian market to attract the ardent travelers seeking to be up close with nature and wildlife,” he said. “India is an important source market of Kenya as a tourist destination. We are here to reassure the travelers that Kenya is open for business and is very safe.”

He noted that the country has seen an increase in inquiries in the last part of last year, noting that this year promises to be better.

Ndegwa said a number of key global events like the World PR Forum 2015, World Skal Congress 2015, the World Conference in PR in emerging Economies and the UN World Trade Organization will be held in Kenya.

About the Kenya Tourist Board: The Kenya Tourist Board (KTB) is an organization representing Kenya's public and private tourism sectors. The KTB is charged with the responsibility of marketing and promoting Kenya as a preferred tourist destination internationally, while encouraging development of Kenya's domestic tourist market. The KTB fosters quality service and sustained excellence of tourist facilities and amenities. In addition, the KTB works with national and regional authorities to ensure protection of the environment and wildlife, and also works closely with various relevant organizations to promote quality of service and excellence. The Board members are representatives of Kenya's various tourism organizations, including Kenya's Ministry of Tourism and Information, Kenya Association of Tour Operators, Kenya Association of Travel Agents, Kenya Association of Hotel Keepers and Caterers, Mombasa and Coast Tourist Association, and Kenya Airways. The KTB is headquartered in Nairobi. For more information, visit http://www.MagicaKenya.com .