2015 MAGICAL KENYA TRAVEL EXPO MOVES TO MOMBASA
(Posted 29th December 2014)
Reactions were swift in welcoming the decision by the Kenya Tourist Board when Muriithi Ndegwa, the CEO of KTB, made the announcement that the 2015 edition of the Magical Kenya Travel Expo will be held in the coastal city of Mombasa.
Already during the 2014 edition was a wave of comments received that ideally the show should have taken place at the coast to support the ailing tourism industry, where beach resorts were the hardest hit by the downturn in fortunes of what was once Kenya’s number one economic sector. This wish was now granted and Mombasa will for the first time ever host #MKTE2015, one of several high profile events next year, like the Skal International World Congress, to give a boost to coast based tourism businesses at a time when good publicity is needed most. Kenya is reportedly also intensifying efforts to have Indian Ocean cruises stop over at the port of Mombasa again and has been in contact with tourism boards on the islands to coordinate marketing the region to international cruise lines.
KTB, together with Kenya Airways and the Kenyan tourism private sector, this year hosted over 150 recognized buyers from some 30 countries, in addition to which they had invited leading tourism trade media to cover the event.
Preceded by a full day Symposium, which addressed a series of key innovations but also discussed the challenges and opportunities for Kenya Tourism, did the subsequent three day show then offer a platform for buyers and sellers to meet, talk business and sign contracts. Kenya’s hospitality and safari tours sector was fully represented and exhibitors came from the region and the wider continent, including Uganda, Rwanda, Zimbabwe and South Africa, showing support for East Africa’s undisputed leader in international tourism trade shows. The 2015 Magical Kenya Travel Expo is expected to follow a similar format, starting off with a trade Symposium before the main show kicks off with the first two days dedicated to travel trade meetings before the general public will be able to visit the showground on the last day. No venue has yet been named and when information is available be sure to read it here.
The #MKTE2014 this year then ended with the East African tourism boards meeting the tourism private sector, media and in part even hosted buyers at a half-day session at the Sarova Stanley Hotel where the cooperation between the three Northern Corridor Cooperation countries was highlighted.
For more information about Destination Kenya click on www.magicalkenya.com and for details on #MKTE visit www.mkte.co.ke
