The Kenya Tourism Board (KTB), the official tourism marketing agency for Kenya, has set its sights on capitalizing on the upcoming Paris Olympics to propel the nation’s sports tourism industry.

This strategic move leverages the global spotlight on Kenya‘s powerhouse athletes and coincides perfectly with Kenya’s peak tourist season, creating a unique opportunity to showcase the country’s multifaceted offerings.

John Ololtuaa, Principal Secretary in the State Department of Tourism, underscored the significance of sports personalities in his statement released in Nairobi.

He highlighted their role as “national icons and global ambassadors” who can effectively project Kenya‘s potential as a premier sports tourism destination during the Olympics.

Aligning with Peak Season for Maximum Impact

The Paris Olympics conveniently overlap with Kenya’s peak tourist season, which stretches from June to October.

This period coincides with the awe-inspiring wildebeest migration in the Maasai Mara National Reserve, a natural spectacle dubbed one of the “Twin Migrations” alongside the humpback whale migration in Watamu.

KTB aims to leverage this perfect timing to entice Olympic visitors to extend their stay and experience these iconic Kenyan wonders.

Kenya boasts a rich tapestry of tourism experiences beyond wildlife safaris.

From pristine beaches and vibrant coral reefs to breathtaking landscapes and diverse cultural encounters, the country offers something for every traveler.

KTB’s strategic plan leverages the Olympics to showcase this full spectrum of attractions to the global audience expected at the Games.

Kenya: A Powerhouse in African Sports Tourism

Kenya arrives at the Paris Olympics with an impressive pedigree, holding the distinction of being Africa’s most decorated Olympic nation with over 100 medals to its credit.

This stellar track record, coupled with the presence of renowned Kenyan athletes like Brigid Kosgei and Eliud Kipchoge, is certain to generate significant international interest in the country’s sporting scene.

The influx of athletes, officials, and fans for the Olympics presents a lucrative opportunity for Kenya’s tourism sector.

KTB’s proactive approach capitalizes on this potential by promoting sports tourism experiences that cater to this specific audience.

Envisioning Kenya’s Sports Tourism Landscape

While details of KTB’s specific plans haven’t been unveiled yet, potential strategies could involve:

Package deals: Curated itineraries combining Olympic events with wildlife safaris, cultural excursions, or beach getaways.

Training camps: Offering world-class training facilities at high altitude locations like Iten and Kaptagat, renowned for nurturing Kenyan champions, to international athletes.

Experiences with sporting legends: Organizing exclusive opportunities for tourists to interact with or train alongside Kenyan sporting heroes.

A Win-Win Situation: Boosting Tourism and National Image

KTB’s focus on sports tourism is a strategic move with the potential to deliver significant benefits for Kenya. Here’s a breakdown of the potential gains:

Increased tourist arrivals: By effectively leveraging the Olympics, KTB can attract a broader range of tourists interested in sports, adventure, and cultural experiences.

Diversification of the tourism sector: Sports tourism presents a valuable avenue for diversification, lessening dependence on traditional wildlife safaris and creating a more resilient tourism industry.

Enhanced national image: The global spotlight on Kenyan athletes during the Olympics serves as a powerful platform to showcase the country’s beauty, hospitality, and sporting prowess, boosting Kenya’s international image.

Looking Ahead: A Promising Future for Kenyan Sports Tourism

The Kenya Tourism Board’s strategic focus on sports tourism holds immense promise for the nation’s tourism industry.

By capitalizing on the upcoming Paris Olympics and the country’s legacy of sporting excellence, KTB has the potential to attract a new wave of visitors eager to experience the magic of Kenya.

This strategic approach not only promises economic benefits but also contributes to strengthening Kenya’s position as a global sporting powerhouse and a world-class tourist destination.

Source: ATTA.   

Kenyatta International Convention Centre CEO James Mwaura has been elected chairperson of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) –African Chapter for a two-year term following a competitive process.

This is the first time Kenya has won the position.

ICCA is an international body which represents the world’s leading suppliers in handling, transporting and accommodating international meetings and events.

It comprises of 1,100-member companies and organizations across the world and specializes in the international association’s meetings sector in 100 countries.

The African chapter has about 50 members and plays a pivotal role in developing and growing the local meetings and events industry and enhancing the global competitiveness of the continent.

As the new chair, Mwaura will work with his colleagues in the ICCA Africa chapter to position Africa as a prime business conferencing destination and showcase the potential of the continent to host big events.

Africa has a great deal of potential in the meetings and conference business and his efforts will be dedicated in helping Chapter members exploit this potential to increase the number of meetings that Africa hosts, KICC saidn in a statement on Thursday.

Kenya expects to gain from the position through the strategic influence Mwaura will have in hosting of rotational conferences.

Mwaura expressed his gratitude to the Africa Chapter members for believing and voting for him.

Commenting on his new role, Mwaura said he will use the influential post to further position Kenya as an attractive destination for conference tourism also known as Meetings, Incentives, Travel, Conferences and Exhibition (MICE) Tourism.

“Key will be to showcase Kenya and the continent’s capabilities to host large conferences and events.  Africa is ready to do business with the world. With the right in-country partnerships, member countries can host major events and as ICCA Africa Chapter, we will work to ensure we raise this profile,” said Mwaura.

He further commits to deliver on his promises to grow the Chapter.

“I will push for strategic Chapter involvement that provide valuable business and learning opportunities for Africa, develope initiatives that foster greater participation and networking among Africa Chapter members, as well as mobilise new members to the chapter,” Mwaura said.

The post will enable Kenya gain access to valuable industry data, research, and insights that can inform the country’s MICE strategic decisions.

It will also give the country increased global visibility and recognition through strategic business speaking opportunities in international ICCA forums.

Mwaura has further committed to leverage on the position to influence the growth and development of Kenya’s meetings and conventions industry on a global scale.

“Kenya will possess the potential to successfully secure leads for conventions to be held within the country,” Mwaura added.

Further, the position will give Kenya an upper hand in collaborating with teams of experienced professionals and support from ICCA’s resources and infrastructure. 

Some of the objectives of the African Chapter as the voice of Africa in the global meetings world include increasing Africa’s market share of the global meetings industry.

It is also focused on extracting more business between countries on the continent, growing and nurturing the people within the industry and creating a positive image about Africa as a unique and inspiring destination for international meetings and events.

 Source: The Star.  

It is all systems go for this year’s wildebeest migration at the Maasai Mara National Reserve as hotels experience up to 95 percent bookings.

A spot check by The Standard has revealed that investors are hopeful of reaping big from the phenomenon after devastating floods that wreaked havoc on some camps and lodges along rivers.

The peak season runs from July to September every year when millions of wildebeests spectacularly cross from the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to the Maasai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya.

The spectacle attracts thousands of international and local tourists who book hotels and camps around the game reserve for the golden chance to watch the world’s eighth wonder.

The animals have to crisscross the Mara River several times in different spots where crocodiles prey on them.

This forms one of the highlights of the migration as the animals fight to cross the river in one piece.

Women selling beads at the Sekenani gate – the main entrance to the Mara- and artists are also reaping huge from foreign and local tourists.

“We are already reaping the fruits of the high season, as tourists have increased in number.

‘‘I now sell beads worth between Sh7,000 and Sh15,000 a day,” said Nayiarei Noonkipa.

The management of the reserve said they are expecting more than 100,000 tourists to witness the migration this year, which is to start by mid-July.

Mara Chief Park Warden Stephen Minis, on Saturday, said the number of tourists had increased tremendously in the past few weeks, and according to hotels inside and outside the reserve they are recording booming business.

Sarova Mara Camp General Manager Jane Kiragu is upbeat that the bookings were impressive despite challenges the tourism industry was facing locally following heavy rains that swept some tented camps and persistent demonstrations against the government.

Speaking to The Standard over the weekend, Kiragu said the hotel has 75 tents entry-level tents, 20 deluxe tents, 20 club tents and family tents, which are two-bedroomed, all fully booked for the next three months.

Kiragu said the experience in the hotel for their clients will be different as they are upscaling their tourism products and improving their tents to give their clients the experience of a lifetime.

“In Sarova, we are 95 per cent fully booked, and we are expecting more visitors.

‘‘We are currently trying to improve club tents, which are the hotel’s high-end tents, and the experience is quite different,” said Kiragu.

She said the difference is in the high-end tents since the hotel has introduced a private dining area dubbed ‘Olchani’ with a great experience in a woody area overlooking a little lake beside it, an open fireplace, a private heated swimming pool and a Jacuzzi.

According to their bookings, they have clients from all over Europe, with citizens of Spain, Britain, Germany, Dubai, India, and domestic market travellers.

Source: Standard Media.