Air tickets from Nairobi to coastal towns have increased to highs of Sh24,000 one-way ahead of Easter festivities as some flights are sold out, marking one of the steepest rises in the last three years.

The high airfare charges are a result of high demand as people plan to troop to the Coast for the holiday.

Passengers travelling to Mombasa and Ukunda on Good Friday will pay Sh24,776 on Safarilink from as low as Sh8,200 they would have paid this week on some of the flights to the coastal towns.

The airline’s chief executive Alex Avedi said the destination is one of the leading tourist destinations in the country.

“The Kenya coast has always been booming ever since the Covid-19 pandemic. There is a lot of domestic travel which has continued post the pandemic and, as you know, there is a general recovery in the sector,” said Mr Avedi on Wednesday.

Airlines charge lower fares when they make early bookings compared to making their reservation at the last moment.

Airlines such as Skyward Express have recorded full bookings from March 31 to April 8 on the Nairobi-Malindi route.

The carrier is charging up to Sh18,200 on April 5 one-way to Diani from Wilson Airport in Nairobi.

Full Safarilink and Jambojet bookings mean other airlines will be the option for passengers travelling to the coast around Easter.

Jambojet is sold out on the eve of Good Friday as well as on Good Friday on routes such as Ukunda.

The carrier is, however, charging Sh17,700 one-way from Nairobi to Ukunda on April 8, up from around Sh9,200 when demand is low.

Source: Business Daily

The Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) has shifted focus to marketing hidden treasures of the country, as it eyes to improve earnings.

The State Corporation is working with other stakeholders, including Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) and the county governments, in unlocking domestic tourism potential in the country’s cultural heritage, places of natural beauty, eco-tourism and places of historical importance.

According to KTB Marketing Executive, Ms. Margaret Kamau, there are 1,052 (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) Unesco World Heritage Sites located in 165 Party States, out of which Kenya hosts six sites: Fort Jesus, Lamu Old Town, Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests, Great Rift Valley, Lake Turkana National Park and Mount Kenya National Park/Forest.

She said although, coastal beach holidays and wildlife safaris still remained attractive, the Board was also aggressively marketing alternative core tourism products that the country could offer from its diverse niches, including culture, cuisine, entertainment, sports, nature (beach and safari) and Meetings, Incentives, Exhibitions, and Conferences (Mice) tourism.

The KTB Marketing Executive said the country is blessed with many destinations that most Kenyans can visit, including little known physical features such as waterfalls, craters, gorges and lakes, prehistoric sites, national museums and wild animals, among others.

To harness domestic tourism potential, she added, more efforts are required to locally create more awareness about tourists’ attractions such as Thim Lich Ohinga stone fortress in Nyanza, the grave of explorer David Hannington in Mumias, the Kipteber meteorite historical mountain where the seven sub-tribes of the Kalenjin are said to have originated and Italian war memorial church, that housed over 600 prisoners of war in Mount Kenya region among others.

Ms. Kamau stated that most local and foreign tourists only know of the generic attractions  such as  the Maasai Mara and Mombasa. This she noted has not only put a strain on the facilities and capacity but has also left the tourism industry largely dependent on a few attractions.

“We have also been looking to grow domestic tourism using the “You deserve a holiday” campaign to get the residents excited about the various destinations that their country has to offer. There are many Kenyans who are interested in travel but lack sufficient information,” she continued.

The state body which aims to drive and support the effective marketing of Kenya’s tourism products, also runs the Magical Kenya website. It is on this website that in addition to showcasing Kenyan tourist destinations, also lists discounted packages for local residents.

She was speaking during the “You deserve a holiday” campaign sponsored by Magical Kenya in Nakuru that brought together officials from Baringo and Nakuru County Governments, domestic airlines, tour operators and hoteliers.

The Marketing Executive indicated that the “You deserve a holiday” campaign also covered all destinations in Kenya that offered rock climbing, bird watching, golf tourism, adventure sports, leisure tourism and wildlife tourism.

“We are committed to expanding areas that have previously not been showcased as well as those that require to be transformed into top travel experiences,” she said.

Ms. Kamau pointed out that conclusion of the exercise will give the board an edge in marketing the areas and help the country generate extra income.

As a way of creating awareness, the board has visited some of the historical, cultural and geographical sites in the parts of the country in a bid to identify their niche segments and offer advice on provision of affordable packages and experiences that meet the needs of potential local travelers.

“Despite Kenya’s reputation as a hub of rich tourism, the focus has been largely on wildlife tourism; ignoring the several forms of tourism that the country has to offer. We are working with industry players such as hoteliers, tour companies and guides in drawing attraction to the hidden gems that Kenya has in store,” she added.

Ms. Kamau observed that apart from bullfighting, Kakamega Forest and Mt Elgon, are among major tourist attractions in Western Kenya.

Nyanza region for instance the KTB marketing executive added, had rich cultural and archaeological diversity and is home to the famous Kit Mikayi (ancient rocks heaped on another, which does not disintegrate even when there is earthquake or inclement weather.

It is also home to legends Lwanda Magere, Okore Ogonda, and Gor Mahia, among others, famed for courage in protecting their communities against external aggression.

“You deserve a holiday” initiative was also encouraging the private sector and local communities to develop “out of park” tourism activities such as mountain biking. The promotion is further encouraging visits to cultural and spiritual sites, cultural performances and community walks.

Ms. Kamau challenged Kenyans to drop the notion that tourism is only a preserve for the wealthy or those with disposable income and firms in the tourism sector to also come up with reasonable packages affordable by most Kenyans.

“We have for a long time relied on too much on foreigners to build our tourism, it is now our time as locals to spur the growth of our domestic tourism to the next level by playing a major part in that growth,”

She said the “You deserve a holiday” initiative has led to the growth of domestic tourism in the country by breaking the reliance on seasonal tourism cycles that largely depends on foreigners.

“Domestic tourism is as important as international tourism and we want Kenyans to embrace and promote it. We have products that are tailored to the local tourists. There is enough to be seen in Kenya from Turkana to Naivasha. In Australia, for example, depends majorly on domestic tourists as facilities have been packaged to cater for every group right from the bottom of the pyramid,” noted the marketing executive.

Mr. William Kimosop, a trade and tourism officer in Baringo County Government, stated that colossal investments as well as political goodwill are needed to prepare the country for domestic tourism as the state continues marketing it.

“We are sitting on a goldmine as far as domestic tourism is concerned and the opportunities will become a reality if county governments and their leaderships take up the issue of infrastructure and marketing seriously,” he said.

Mr. Kimosop urged a shift from the “traditional” tourism that only promotes the coast at the expense of other equally rich areas around the country.

“We have depended so much on the coast but the feeling at the moment is for the government to turn attention to other markets, and tap into the cultures of other ethnic groups to boost tourism earnings,” argued Mr. Kimosop.

For long, Mr. Kimosop said, tourism in Kenya has been left in the hands of foreigners who understand little of the local culture and consequently do little to promote it beyond getting back returns from their investments.

Customer Relations Officer at Bonfire Adventures Tour Operators Mr. Joseph Mutua indicated that Kenya is a favourable destination for adventure, sports, game viewing as well as romantic expeditions.

“For years, the tourism board has focused on the beaches and safari but we have the second tallest mountain in Africa after Kilimanjaro which is more scenic,” he said.

“Agri-tourism is also a big opportunity especially in the tea and coffee sectors, being among the top exchange earners in the country,” he added.

Mr. Mutua said that it is important to realize that for domestic tourism to succeed, a greater part depends on the goodwill of the locals more than the other industries.

“The locals must be happy with the visitors and the security of the knowledge that the presence of the visitors around will not affect their operations either socially, economically or even politically and that they will not impose values that are not welcomed in their society. This can easily be achieved when the locals are engaged by involving them in dialogues relating to the influence of tourism in that particular area,” noted Mr. Mutua.

Source: KNA

The government plans to deploy advanced and emerging technologies at its points of entry and exit to curb cross-border crimes and improve clearance of persons across the 35 one-stop border posts and border control checkpoints.

Interior Principal Secretary Dr Raymond Omollo relayed the government’s commitment to the concept of smart border security systems as a surefire response to the illegal activities threatening national and regional security.

“We have been entrusted with the task of safeguarding our borders against the crimes and activities that drive the globalized illegal economy,” the PS said during a meeting with the Border Control and Operations Coordination Committee (BCOCC) in Kisumu.

“As you all know, the threat landscape is constantly evolving, and we must work jointly in the establishment and implementation of a robust entry and exit system,” he added.

One of the advanced-level monitoring and clearance technologies adopted by developed countries is the Internet of Things (IoT), which utilizes sensors and processing software for seamless and real-time data across a network of devices.

These include smart video monitoring, smart kiosks, surveillance drones, and even mobile apps, which have presented new opportunities in border management operations.

According to Omollo, Kenya’s plan to keep up with the pace of innovation in this sector will not only expand its border patrol security capabilities but also facilitate legitimate cross-border trade.

“Now, more than ever, we are obligated to perceive our entry and exit systems through a national security lens,” he said.

He lauded the support networks propagated through BCOCC, a joint team of representatives from various law enforcement agencies, established in 2014 to formulate policies and programs for the management of border control checkpoints.

So far, the committee has fostered collaboration among the various law enforcement agencies and minimized the use of forged travel documents, illegal migration, human trafficking, smuggling of weapons, trafficking of narcotics and laundering of money among other crimes across the country’s borders.

Source: The Star

Traveling is one of way of escaping the hustle and bustles of life.  However, there are two ways to travel; either be an original tourist who loves to enjoy all the luxuries, do all the touristy stuff and leave or travel like a local who really wants to understand the environment and immerse yourself in their culture.

While one shouldn’t feel any guilt opting to travel like a tourist, it’s always a satisfying experience to travel like a local and get to know your environment more. From my experience of travel, I have noted that traveling like a local always saves money, makes you meet more people and above all, one gets to support the local economy.

Find out how the locals do things

But to be able to do so, one must first ask themselves and research on how locals in the destination of where they desire to travel to behave and do things. Unless you ask yourself such questions, you will behave like a tourist while desiring to immerse yourself in experiences.

Ask yourself what kind of experiences you like? What kind of people would you like to meet? Where would you like to go? or What food would you like to eat? Researching your destination will not only help you know what to expect and look for in a destination, but it will also enable you strike conversations with strangers and know the kind of questions to ask for to find the right experiences.

Only pack what you need

Once you find the right destination, don’t overschedule your days while packing. Add a little bit of spontaneity to it by just packing what you need and leaving the rest to chance. Over packing is acting like a tourist. You should pack in the same manner that you would when visiting your friend or family, with less of the pricey clothes and more of your regular ones so long as they respect the weather and the customs of the destination that you are heading to.

I’ve realized that over packing sometimes induces anxiety and makes one not enjoy the moment or their vacation in a place.

Learn the local language

The first thing to learn is the local language and customs. Learn how to say hello, sorry and often say this whenever you go to the shops, travel by bus, or meet someone in the streets. This will assist you in case you are stranded and have no means of communication. It will also build your image before the locals and make you look in tune with your surroundings.

If you go to Rome do as they do. One of the things that has assisted me in hacking this is having an open mind and knowing that traveling is all about learning. If you travel to a place with a strong coffee culture like Ethiopia where you will find people seated outside taking local coffee or outside on a patio, try get some even if you are not a fan. If you want to experience the city as a local, you must act like one by accepting to embrace the cultures unless.

Learn the dos and don’ts

One must learn the dos and don’ts of being in that place. For instance, if you find yourself on a vacation in a Muslim country, drink, and dress modestly. Also, don’t approach member of the opposite gender as there are stricter rules that govern social interaction in most of these countries. Learn what the law says about traffic or which side to drive, and it will save you from going to jail in a foreign land. Learn what to do when going to sacred places and respect people regardless of what you think of their culture. Have an open mind to learn instead of judging and criticizing their way of life.

Take Public transport

Take Public Transit instead of an Uber or taxi as it is not only cheap, but one can interact with the locals directly. I’ve realized that striking a conversation with a local in a bus will make you learn a lot about the current issues and what to avoid during your visit. However, only try this in places where people are friendly and where public transport is available.

Homestays

Another way of traveling like a local is staying at someone’s just instead. Inventions like Airbnb and coach surfing have really been key in not just offering affordable accommodation but also making travelers feel like locals whenever they visit a place. You can stay with a friend as you explore the destination as well. However, should you opt for this, always ensure that you carry shopping and assist in the expenses of the house for the period that you will be with your host.

Once you find a great accommodation, the next thing you need to do is throw away all your list of to do things and ask the locals to recommend a place for you. Having a list makes your travel all about sight-seeing like a tourist and never about absorbing what is happening around you. Get lost in the destination, get your map, and try out new places because sometimes in doing this, you’ll be able to bump into a beautiful place.

Visit the local market

Visit the local market and not the supermarket whenever you are trying to buy food stuff. You will find fresh produce, local crafts and get to meet the locals and learn about them through observation and conversing with them. One thing to add though, if you can travel to the market with a local, then do. They can help when it comes to bargaining prices and avoiding exploitation.

In a nutshell

An important thing to note is that you should not travel during the tourist season. Traveling during seasons like Christmas and Easter make you look like a tourist and pay like a tourist. While at it always ensure that you seek recommendations from locals on where to travel.

Wherever you are from, you probably have an idea of some special places you would recommend to visitors. You will discover that some of their experiences are unique, and they have better ways of enjoying it plus an affordable way of doing it. These experiences are most likely not in guidebooks or may seem strange at first. If you happen to come across some friendly locals while on vacation, ask them for some suggestions. They may tell you about a delicious restaurant or a beautiful park. They could also tailor their suggestion to your personal interests. Locals are an important source of knowledge when travelling.

Source: Zurulink Africa

East Africa’s largest travel exhibition, the Magical Kenya Travel Expo, returns for the first time after a two-year pandemic-induced hiatus.

The event, to be held from October 5-7, has attracted 160 buyers, 225 exhibitors and trade partners from 30 countries.

Kenya Tourism Board chief executive Betty Radier stated that overwhelming interest in the expo forced organisers to open up accreditation for self-hosted buyers.

And in contrast to previous expos, the 12th edition will be held at the Bomas of Kenya instead of the traditional venue, Kenyatta International Convention Centre.

To give the event international acclaim, there will be 20 media personalities from across the world who, together with other guests, will sample some of Kenya’s renowned tourism hotspots before and after the expo.

In recent weeks, Magical Kenya has been running online promotional teasers of what awaits the visitors to the country.

As a start, visitors are urged to visit the Lamu archipelago, Kenya’s oldest inhabited settlement founded in 1370.

In Lamu, as they will find out, mobility is rather constrained unless they opt for the ancient-looking wind-powered dhows. The island has got only two cars, and one of them is an ambulance for the donkeys, Lamu’s revered beasts of burden. At last, a town with no traffic jams!

If they are adventurous enough, our guests can drive to Kituluni Hills just outside Machakos town where they will witness one of the world’s wonders. Here, water is said to defy gravity as it seems to flow uphill in the yet-to-be-explained phenomenon.

While at Kituluni, the visitors better be warned that vehicles here tend to accelerate faster than usual when going uphill. Why? That is the stuff of legends. In any case, this is Ukambani, where not everything can be explained logically.

If Kituluni Hills do not give them the right dose of adrenaline, then a trip to Iten, one of the country’s high-altitude training grounds will test their mettle as they see why Kenya is a world beater in matters athletic.

They will also learn a key fact about Iten: the 20-kilometre radius around the town has the largest concentration of track and field Olympic gold medalists in the world.  

But what will be the highlights of these countrywide tours are the Key Signature Experiences, or specially curated itineraries by Magical Kenya that include some of the country’s most exclusive lodges, camps and conservation areas.

As part of the unique experiences, Big Cat Safaris is the tag given to the eco-friendly game drives by Gamewatchers Safaris. The safaris take you through a few of the 40 destinations in the world on the IUCN green list found in Kenya.

In Tsavo, southern Kenya lies Finch Hattons, a 5-Star boutique experience set on natural freshwater springs combining modern luxury with history. Surrounded by 35 acres of untouched Africa and magnificent views of Mt Kilimanjaro, the camp is named after Karen Blixen’s lover who perished in a plane in this region. For those who appreciate sweeping vistas of a wide, open Africa, the plains of Tsavo will offer the perfect visual feast.

Up north, Suguta Valley and its famed salt pans, lava flows and crocodile pools are the closest one gets to the Arabian deserts. The alluring dunes are framed by the imposing Mathews Ranges and the Ndotto mountains.

The wonders of Suguta are best observed from the air and Nanyuki-based Tropic Air has ruled the skies over this part of Kenya for ages. And rightly so since the founder, Jamie Roberts was born and brought up on the shores of Lake Baringo. The rugged beauty awakened the adventure bug in the young boy, culminating in a life-long love for nature.

In 1993, Jamie established Tropic Air, a direct invitation to other like-minded nature enthusiasts to sample the beauty that he so cherished. An experienced fixed wing and helicopter pilot, Jamie’s high-flying guests include Sir David Attenborough, the affable English naturalist whom he flew during the making of the BBC Africa series.

Through the outfit, a sundowner below the majestic peaks of Kirinyaga, God’s mountain is a once-in-a-lifetime feat.

Still in the north, spare the vehicle (or the chopper) and get down on a walking safari with camels as your close companions. Kirisia Walking Safaris offers guests the rare opportunity to trek through the expanses of northern Kenya, following in the footsteps of the early explorers.

As a present-day explorer, immerse yourself in the wild north, where land and sky meet while taking in the last rays of the setting sun. Here, in Laikipia’s high country, bandits once ruled, but tranquillity now reigns.

Time permitting, those attending the Magical Kenya Expo might as well make a date with destiny and plan for a trip to Masai Mara, where the last of the great herds still roam as they did millenniums ago.

They may also want to make a trip to Amboseli, the home of the world’s greatest tuskers, or swim with the dolphins and watch humpback whales breach along the waters of Watamu on Kenya’s north coast.

Should our guests manage to sample the vaunted beauty outlined here, the more they will discover that they have only touched the fringes of the country’s attractions. The words of Avicii will ring in their ears, … “hey brother, there is an endless road to rediscover.”  

Source: The Standard