The Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA) on Thursday morning hosted the Mombasa Industry meeting sponsored by Amadeus.

After welcoming remarks from KATA Board Director and Coast Liaison Ms. Rashida Pereira, the members were taken through crucial changes in the travel trade business affecting how business runs.

It was noted that the travel industry is undergoing change with the introduction of new initiatives that change the way business is done.

Amadeus Sales Manager Mr David Chipinde took the Mombasa travel agents through NDC (New Distribution Capability), a travel industry-supported program (NDC Program) which enhances the capability of communications between airlines and travel agents.

Mr Chipinde explained that NDC is the new distribution system that has been adopted by airlines urging that it was imperative that travel agents understand the process.

On the other hand, KATA Chief Executive Nicanor Sabula explained to the Mombasa team on the New Generation IATA Settlement System (New Gen ISS). Kenya is expected to transition to the new system in October 2019.

NewGen ISS is a program launched by International Air Transport Association (IATA) to offer a cost-effective financial settlement services and solutions to airlines and travel agents.

Mr Sabula informed the KATA members on how the new business model which facilitates the distribution and settlement of funds between travel agents and airlines would work and the requirements.

He assured the Mombasa agents that a team would visit countries that have already made the transition in order to learn from them.

“It is a crucial year for us in the industry as there are a number of changes happening. Some of them we have talked about so as to see how we prepare ourselves as they will impact our business,” Mr Sabula said.

Trainings, he said, are also important in order to ensure that all agents understand the system before October.

According to statistics from the China National Tourism Administration, Chinese tourists travelled overseas on 131 million occasions in 2017, an increase of 7.0% from the previous year. Data from the International Association of Tour Managers shows that overseas travel spending by Chinese tourists reached USD 261.1 billion in 2016, an increase of 4.5% year-on-year, and ranking first worldwide.

In line with this, Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA) recently hosted an industry meeting for her members in partnership with KCB & UnionPay International to explore “Opportunities in China for Travel Agents”.

UnionPay International is a global payment system accepted in 50 African countries and in more than 170 countries and regions worldwide. It is the world’s biggest card network, with 7 billion debit and credit cards in circulation. About 100 million UnionPay cards have been issued and the card is accepted by over 51 million merchants and 2.57 million ATMs in China, and 23 million merchants and 1.64 million ATMs outside mainland China

“We are the fastest growing payment brand in the world, particularly in Kenya we are going to be a brand that is more and more visible to the local market” says Mark Mbugua, Marketing Manager – UnionPay International Africa Branch during the KATA industry meeting.

As far as Africa is concerned UnionPay International cards are accepted in almost every country, therefore any UnionPay cardholder travelling across the continent can use the card at point of sale, ATM and ecommerce.

Chinese outbound market is very important, cash is not the easiest thing to travel with and having security to know that they can use their cards for purchase and withdrawal makes it easier for the Chinese and ultimately they end up spending more.

In Kenya, Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) is the first bank to be issuing UnionPay card and it offers significant advantages for Kenyans traveling to China. For travel agents, they stand to benefit a great deal since with 100% ATM and POS acceptance in China, customers can transact easily in China and beyond. Offering China and Asia bound customers the UnionPay cards is a great value-addition as they will not need to worry about carrying cash.

Kenya Association of Travel Agents has announced that they will be partnering with Google Kenya to hold Digital Skills training for her members throughout the year. The training follows a successful pilot held last year where more than 70 travel agents received training from google appointed trainers.

This week, KATA hosted the google digital skills training session at the KATA Boardroom which is the first of a series of trainings that will be ongoing throughout the year.

“Last year we began a partnership with Google to equip all our members with essential digital skills.” Stated Nicanor Sabula, CEO at KATA during the first session of the digital skills training.

In Kenya, 86% of the population are internet users according to key digital statistical indicators by google as at January 2018 while globally there is a 56% penetration of internet users.

The main objective of this partnership and training is because we are living in a digital world and the general feeling that the travel industry was disrupted in terms of the digital space, therefore if we don’t catch up we’ll be left behind.” In an interview with Weekly Travel News, Mr. Sabula mention that, ““There is a lot of competition with OTAs; they are not eating our lunch, we are just late to the table.”

During the training KATA members were given detailed highlights on why web matters, how to grow business online, online safety and many more including Google My Business Workshop.

This training is in line with KATA’s strategic plan of continuously building members’ professional capacity in order to compete in a changing business environment.

“I am happy that google has agreed to walk with us in this journey throughout the year.” Said, Mr. Nicanor Sabula.

The Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA) this week hosted forums for the Eldoret and Kisumu Travel Agents sponsored by Travelport.

Travel agents from the two towns were taken through the trends and changes in the travel trade industry.

KATA Secretary and board director Mr Shilen Jobanputra emphasised on the need to stay up to date as the industry is progressive.

“KATA continues to represent the interest of travel agents. Currently our industry is undergoing phenomenal changes and it has really evolved over the years. It is important as stakeholders and players that we are one step ahead and conscious of what is happening around us within the travel industry,” stated Mr. Jobanputra, who also serves as the Chairperson of the Membership Committee.

Speaking during the event, KATA CEO Mr Nicanor Sabula took agents through a presentation on the future of the travel industry including the forthcoming NewGen ISS and what agents need to know.

Travelport director Ms. Nita Nagi pointed out the evolution of technology over the years noting that the industry has become paperless.

“Now technology has changed and ticketing is done paperless, as compared to the beginning of travel where tickets were issued handwritten. That’s why Travelport is here to assist you embrace change. We all need to embrace change and move with the world,” she addressed the travel agents.

Travelport Sales Manager Ms Martha Wambui assured the travel agents of support in helping them grow and sustain the businesses.

Mr Isaac Mukuru, also from Travelport urged travel agents to become adaptive to technology and change.

Kenya Association of Travel Agents’ second industry meeting of the year took place at Villa Rosa Kempinski Hotel this week under the platinum sponsorship of Standard Chartered Bank – Kenya. At the meeting Standard Chartered Bank shared with Members the global and national economic outlook. This is important so as to understand the travel agents operating environment.

Standard Chartered Bank took members through a tailor-made financial product that is developing in conjunction with the association. The product will seek to provide a solution to the many financial challenges that travel agents face in their operations.

“We still want to ensure that we collect useful information that can help develop this product further, and for us as KATA, we want to engage with partners that are willing to listen to us, willing to respond to the issues and the pain that we have in our business and we want to thank Standard Chartered for taking up this by considering the unique nature and needs of our business and finding a solution.” Said Mr. Nicanor Sabula, CEO at KATA.

At the end of the meeting Ms. Madleine Njuguna of Standard Chartered Bank stated that, “We do commit to make a proposition that will be completely relevant to what you need, to the extent that we will actually at one point do a formal launch event and roll out a formalized concrete partnership with Kenya Association of Travel Agents.”

The Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA) this week hosted Mombasa Travel Agents at the Royal Court hotel sponsored by Travelport.

Top on the agenda at the meeting was IATA’s New Distribution Capability (NDC) and the New Generation IATA Settlement Scheme NEWGEN ISS that is set to be introduced in Kenya on 16^th October this year.  KATA members got to interact with both organisations while learning about the new trends in the travel market today.

The program, that has already been rolled out in several countries in the world including neighbouring Uganda and Tanzania was launched by IATA to deliver faster, safer and more cost effective and relevant financial settlement services and solutions to airlines and travel agents that rely on the IATA Settlement Systems (ISS).

In his opening remarks, KATA Chairman Mr. Mohammed Wanyoike emphasised on the need to stay up to date as the industry is progressive.

Speaking during the event was Travelport Regional Product Manager, Brent Mc.Laren who took the Travel Agents through a session on New Distribution Capability Program (NDC).

NDC was launched by IATA as a communication protocol for the travel industry. NDC is a travel industry- supported program that enhances the capability of communications between airlines and agents.

Mr. Mc.Laren urged the Travel Agents to take time to learn and stay updated on the ever changing technological changes which is meant to grow the industry rather than the general perception that technology is here to disrupt the travel business.

Also speaking during the event, KATA CEO Mr. Nicanor Sabula took agents through the NewGen ISS for the travel agents explaining the process in full detail.

He also unpacked the New IATA’s Resolution 812 that is replacing the current Resolution 818g.

The Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA) on Monday hosted travel agents in a cocktail event sponsored by the South African Tourism (SAT).

SAT Regional Trade Relations Manager Ms Bontle Madiba said that they were leveraging on the partnership with KATA to ensure that more Kenyans visit South Africa.

“Our target is to grow the number of Kenyan visitors to South Africa and that is why we are in partnership with KATA,” she said.

She further pointed out that her country is out to grow the Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing and Exhibition (MICE) type of tourism and further called upon Kenyans to travel and enjoy South Africa and her facilities.

She stated that the South African National Convention Bureau (SANBC) is able to support groups of 100 and above that are travelling into South Africa for MICE purposes.

Also speaking at the event, KATA Board Chairman Mr Mohammed Wanyoike thanked the South African Government for reviewing the visa application process.

He acknowledged the improvement in the process noting that unlike in the past when it took longer, the process is now shorter and the visa issued is for a longer period.

Recent statistics indicate that the number of Kenyans visiting South Africa is rising with about 10, 000 visitors travelling into the country, translating to 7.9 per cent increase.

KATA Chief Executive Officer Mr Nicanor Sabula thanked SAT for their continued support of KATA events.

The association, he further said, will be glad to host South Africa’s Minister for Tourism Ms Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane and her delegation in future.

BSP (Billing and Settlement Plan) Kenya will on October 16, 2019 migrate from Resolution 818g to the NewGen ISS (New Generation IATA Settlement Scheme) Passenger Sales Agency Rules under Resolution 812.

According to Head, IATA Customer Service Center, MAD Ms Sara Hernández Horlock, the NewGen Programme will create more flexible, secure and customer centric BSP for both travel agents and airlines.

The system, she further said, has three components which are;

• New Agency Accreditation models ( GoLite, GoStandard and GoGlobal);
• An enhanced risk management framework, including the Remittance Holding

Capacity (RHC) which establishes a maximum threshold for Agent’s outstanding BSP Cash sales; and

• IATA EasyPay, a new and optional e-wallet solution for payment of tickets through the BSP.

The Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA) has been at the forefront in informing and educating its members on the new system.

KATA has this year reached out through industry meetings in various parts of the country in a bid to have the members informed on the transition.

The Association in partnership with IATA Nairobi Office have also scheduled NewGen ISS and IBSP Workshop to be held on July 29, 2019 at the Laico Regency Hotel in Nairobi. This is part of the preparations towards the transition later this year.

The program has already been rolled out in several countries in the world including neighbouring Uganda and Tanzania and is expected to deliver faster, safer and more cost effective and relevant financial settlement services and solutions to airlines and travel agents that rely on the IATA Settlement Systems (ISS).

Speaking at a previous event, KATA Board Chairman Mr Mohammed Wanyoike said, “We need to prepare adequately for this transition in order to make the migration seamless. That is why KATA CEO Mr Nicanor Sabula and I will travel to learn more from Nigeria, who are already on NewGen ISS. We hope to bring back valuable lessons from this trip”.

With the implementation of Resolution 812, all agents will be transitioned to the GoStandard Accreditation with the ability to convert to the GoLite Accreditation. No action is required.

All Agents will also be assigned their individual Remittance Holding Capacity, Risk Status and any applicable Financial Security requirements under Resolution 812. These conditions will be notified in advance of the introduction of the new Resolution 812.

Furthermore, All Agents will be able to issue transactions using IATA EasyPay, the new e-wallet solution.

IATA urged all airlines and agents to download Resolution 812 to familiarise themselves with the new rules and requirements before the roll out date in October.

For more information on NewGen ISS and the different programme components, please visit our website at http://newgeniss.iata.org/.

The Travel and Tourism sector should unite and stand together in order to have a greater impact in the industry, Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Hon. Najib Balala has said.

Mr Balala urged the industry players including the Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA), Kenya Association of Tour Operators (KATO) to combine forces and engage the government to make the industry more robust.

He was speaking during an office opening ceremony at the KATA offices at The Address in Westlands held on July 31.

“Our national tourism strategy blue print is to see as the government, a unity of purpose for the industry. All you guys (sic) in the industry should be united and stand together so that the government can hear you,” he said.

He further emphasised on the need to have licensing system that will help streamline travel agents and tour operators in the industry. This, he said, is a system that is operational in many countries across the world.

“My wish is to have a licensing system whereby one cannot belong to the trade without being a member of an association,” Mr Balala stated.

He lauded KATA for the bold move to invest in an office space terming them as a formidable association in the travel industry. “We are very proud of your achievement to own your own home,” he said.

Also speaking during the event, KATA Board Chairman Mr Mohammed Wanyoike narrated the over 10 years journey that the association took to own new premises highlighting the highs and lows of the journey.

“We are proud and happy to have honoured the KATA founders who always hoped we would one day own our office. Arriving at a decision was not easy as there were many varying opinions regarding the best way to acquire an office for KATA.

The event was graced by members of the Association, board members, Chief Executive Mr Nicanor Sabula, industry partners among others.

KATA represents the interests of Travel Agents in Kenya and it is Kenya’s largest membership organisation for Travel Agents.