Renewed hope for tourism as Kenya in running to host US expo

Tourism stakeholders are optimistic the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) will pick Nairobi to host their global convention early next year.

This is after ASTA President Zane Kerby and his deputy, Susan Sheats, who pitched camp in the country for six days to sample various destinations, said they were satisfied with the facilities in they found.

Mr Kerby, who is in charge of 140 chapters mandated to provide vital information to American tourists regarding the destinations they intend to visit, said he was particularly impressed by the country’s hotels, food, wildlife and hospitality.

“From what I experienced in Nairobi, there are plenty of excellent venues — both four and five-star hotels — suitable for any outstanding US visitor. It is a city that can host the [2017 ASTA] Destination Expo,” he said.

This year, the expo is being held in Seville, Spain. Africa, through Morocco, has previously hosted the event, but Kerby raised stakeholders’ hopes by saying Kenya could be the ideal host for the sub-Saharan region.

At a briefing in Nairobi’s Crowne Plaza, he described his tour of the Maasai Mara as “an unforgettable experience”, adding that the park’s unspoiled beauty called for a return visit.

Ms Sheats also noted that the level of hospitality was exceptional.

“After my six days here, I will have no hesitation to tell the travel community and my neighbours that they can come [to Kenya]. This is what travel agents come to a destination to find out,” she said.

Negative impressions

Sporadic terror attacks from Al Shabaab militants have, however, tainted the image of the country abroad. On this, Kerby emphasised that travel advisories are important factors in travel plans, but admitted that sometimes the media in the US creates negative impressions.

“The US has a duty to ensure all information known about a travel destination is shared, but I think sometimes the media can emphasise specific incidents even when the probability of something happening is very remote.”

Samson Some, the president of the ASTA Kenya chapter, said proper marketing of Kenya abroad would help change perceptions, adding that there is a gap between what potential tourists know about the country, and what is available.

“We learnt that whenever Americans are choosing destinations, Kenya does not feature anywhere in the top five. Within the next five years, we want to make Kenya among the top three preferred destinations,” he said.

According to the numbers provided by agents, Mr Some said he is pleased that the number of people making return visits to Kenya is usually higher than in any other part in the world.

To boost traffic and better exploit the US market, ASTA Kenya Chapter Secretary Caroline Njoroge said they are counting on hosting the annual ASTA global convention and ASTA Destination Expo.

On plans to introduce direct flights between Kenya and US, Kerby said: “There are several US permanent secretaries that have visited Kenya in the last six months; the secretary of transportation, Antony Foxx, has been here, too. I think that is a good sign that progress is being made.”

Travel stakeholders are hoping to leverage on Kenya successfully hosting US President Obama, Pope Francis and the World Trade Organisation’s 10th Ministerial Conference last year to get the ASTA events.

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