BALALA HEADS KENYAN DELEGATION TO ITB 2017
(Posted 09th March 2017)
Over 40 Kenyan travel trade stakeholders are showcasing their tourism offerings at this year’s International Tourism Bourse, in short ITB in Germany. This comes against the backdrop of a rise of 10.4 percent in arrivals for the last year.
The Kenyan delegation led by Cabinet Secretary for Tourism Najib Balala will be emphasizing the positive aspects that Kenya has recorded in the recent past including key international events and high profile personalities that the country has hosted to profile the destination.
The total consolidated arrivals for 2016 closed at 1,307,351, a 10.4% growth over 2015 that recorded 1,183,847 visitors.
Germany in particular recorded a 13.8% growth last year compared to 2015 with 43,502 arrivals up from 38,236 in the same period.
‘We are riding on our current positive image the country is enjoying globally to re-affirm our position as the preferred tourist destination as well as Kenya’s commitment to improvement of tourism business‘ said Najib Balala.
County governments, tour operators, hoteliers are among the travel trade attendees promoting diverse tourism products and services the country has to offer.
Balala will be using the platform to reassure markets of Kenya’s safety for tourism business even as the country ushers in electioneering period.
Kenya Tourism Board’s Chief Executive Officer Dr. Betty Radier expressed her optimism that the current growth in tourism numbers will be enhanced with a number of marketing strategies KTB has put in place besides government incentives.
‘The German market remains one of Kenya’s top tourist source markets to Kenya and ITB is the largest global platform of showcasing Kenya’s destination and product diversification. Our global campaigns and the renewed confidence on destination is expected to boost our numbers from the market‘ added Ms. Radier.
Some 40 Kenyans are among 10,000 exhibitors and 187 countries meeting in the German capital to discover and negotiate the latest travel industry trends and opinions, at the ITB one of the largest tourism fair in the world.
