Kenya has developed golfing, and the world is taking note.

Over the last 5 years, Kenya has steadfastly grown and made strides in the development of golf and is now being widely recognized as Africa’s premier golf destination. They say, the prevailing all-weather season and other attributes such as connectivity from a golf course to a beach or a game drive within the towns keeps drawing golfers to Kenya and promoting golf tourism.

Karen Country Club, East and Central Africa’s finest and prettiest course recently hosted a number of female golfers from The Emirates Golf Club, Dubai, UAE, to a friendly three-ball competition. The Karen Country Club Ladies Golf section led by their Lady Captain Martha Vincent turned out enthusiastically not to only welcome their counterparts but to also participate in the friendly afternoon competition.

The visiting golfers from The Emirates Golf Club, Dubai who teed off included their lady captain Amarjeet Radia, Jayshree Gupta, Martha Wong, Marie Benson, Naeema Maya, Sue Hopwood, Caroline Granger, Steva Fornazerie, Monica Pulao, Geema Blanco, Sonal Gandhi, Yana Jamieson, Marivi Arias, Maribel Xammer, Yulia Golubewa, Anita Joop, Margaret Breen, Veronica Elias, Anvita Kapoor and Avani Shah.

Later in the evening, the visiting golfers were hosted to a prize giving cocktail at the stunning Fairway Restaurant at Karen Country Club overlooking the beautiful green course against the day’s sunset. The event was attended by among others, Karen Country Club’s GM Robert Onyango, Golf Captain James Ngotho, Lady Captain Martha Vincent, Paulynne Kabuga, Grace Mayani, Betty Gacheru, Rose Mambo, Eunice Koome, Pettie Ndolo, Louisa Gitau, Susie Carmichael, Wendy Turmell, and Doreen Muriithi.

Mintel International Group Golf Tourism indicates golf travelers spend on average 2.5 times more than leisure tourists at a destination. Further research also shows the average length of a trip of a domestic visitor is 3.6 days, whereas a golfer stays 4.6 days.

Currently, Sports tourism is one of Kenya’s product diversification strategies, besides the traditional products such as beach and wildlife, which have been the traditional offerings that the country has over the years been using to attract tourists into the country.

The Emirates Golf Club often called the “desert miracle”, as it shines with rich greenery and exotic flora and fauna is home to four courses and has won numerous awards and are considered to be one of the best in the world. Lady Captain Martha Vincent is looking forward to ushering her Karen Ladies to a visit to Dubai and definitely to The Emirates Golf Club, Dubai, UAE.

Source: Capital Lifestyle

Local airlines are increasing frequency on the Kisumu route ahead of next month’s Africities summit.

The ninth edition of the meeting is scheduled to take place between May 16 and May 21 and is expected to host more than 8,000 delegates.

Kisumu International Airport manager Selina Gor says some of the local airlines had started recording advanced bookings as early as February.

Airlines like Jambojet Airlines are overstretched and contemplating adding another flight to meet the demand.

“Kenya Airways and Jambojet have confirmed they may increase the frequency of flights. They will give us new schedules at the end of the month,” said Ms Gor.

Safarilink Airline has indicated that they may increase their frequencies from three to four.

“Fly 748 are still in discussion at their senior management level on the increase of flights. They will revert with a schedule,” she said.

The budget carrier Jambojet has more flights to Kisumu compared to other destinations. Jambojet does 27 flights weekly from Nairobi to Kisumu.

The national carrier Kenya Airways is currently connecting to Kisumu with 21 flights weekly. Likewise, Safarilink Airline does four times daily flights to Kisumu.

“AirKenya, unless there will be requests for charters, they have indicated they will maintain their present frequency,” said Ms Gor.

Air Renegade sales and marketing manager Patrick Oketch has added a flight at 11 am to keep up with the increasing demand.

“We will have four daily flights to cater to more passengers including those who might not be necessarily coming for the Africities Summit,” said Mr Oketch.

Already Kenya Airport Authority has set aside sh250 million for the expansion of the Kisumu International Airport passenger terminal to accommodate more passengers.

The project is geared towards accommodating one million passengers annually from the current 500000 passengers.

Source: Business Daily