KTB’S COMMITMENT TO GOLF TOURISM TAKES SHAPE
(Posted 10th August 2015)
The Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) this weekend made its debut when the organization supported the Kenya Ladies Coast Open which is an annual event that gives an opportunity to lady golfers to play on the various courses at the Kenyan coast. The scenic Mombasa Golf Club was the final host of the one week event. The course overlooks both the Indian Ocean and the Mama Ngina Drive and part of the Mombasa city.
The Kenya Tourism Board has been keen on promoting sports tourism both locally and internationally, often using medal winning athletes to help promote the country. Some of the key sports that have put Kenya in the local and global map are rugby, golf, cricket and most visibly of course the medium and long distance athletics disciplines. With about 40 golf courses, Kenya is a key golfing destination with world class golf courses that capture Kenya’s rich tourism product.
While addressing the ladies at the prize giving session on Friday, Mr. Allan Njoroge representing the KTB Managing Director noted that the tournament had attracted lady golfers from across different golf clubs around the country, a confirmation of the co-relation between golf and tourism. He urged the ladies, who are key family decision makers, to go on holidays at home and become the champions in enhancing the number of families that follow #Tembea Kenya to enjoy Kenya’s diverse tourism product.
‘We congratulate today’s winners and hope they carry away both the prizes and the memories of a scenic golf course. We urge you to take time and experience more of this coastal city before you get back to your homes. To the hosts, we encourage you to continue to champion Mombasa as the meeting place of choice’ added Mr Njoroge during the presentation of the prizes.
Last year KTB organized the first ever golf festival that saw 30 players from the travel trade representing key source markets sample various golf courses. Earlier this year KTB hosted 12 international golf writers who experienced Kenya’s leading golf courses, including the Vipingo Ridge, with a view of telling the story of Kenya’s golf tourism product. KTB is, according to regular sources, keen to forge more partnerships with Kenya’s golfing community to leverage on Kenya’s potential as a top golfing destination in Africa.
Later this month, the coast will be getting further endorsement from the visit by UNWTO’s Secretary General Dr. Taleb Rifai when the world tourism body hosts a regional conference aimed at exchanging of ideas on enhancing tourism in the region. 10 countries in from the greater East African Region will be represented. In October 2015 will KTB will host tourism product buyers from over 35 countries at the 5th edition of the Magical Kenya Travel EXPO at Leisure Lodge in Diani, followed by the ATA’s 40th anniversary congress held in Nairobi. For added information about Destination Kenya click on www.magicalkenya.com
