Kenyan delegation off to Berlin for ITB tourism trade fair

Kenya will be represented by a record 40 travel trade firms at the 53rd edition of the International Tourism Bourse (ITB) in Berlin Germany from March 6th to10th, 2019.

The event held annually is the world’s largest tourism trade fair.

Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife, Mr Najib Balala will be leading the Kenyan delegation as the country seeks to stamp its authority in the hospitality industry.

The over 40 Kenyan travel trade will be re-affirming country’s resilience and readiness for continued business as it showcases tourism products at the fair.

''Under our National Tourism Blueprint (NTB) 2030, we shall be maximising our country's tourism potential through innovative marketing, product diversification, infrastructure development and investment in hospitality,'' Balala said.

Balala said that the sector is upbeat for better tidings at the close of the year after it recorded a 2 million mark in international arrivals last year, the highest arrivals ever.

Last year, Kenya received 2,025,206 international tourists, a growth of 37.33% compared to 2017, which closed at 1,474,671 international arrivals.

Revenue for the same period were Kshs.157,386,151,000, a 31.2% growth compared to 2017 receipts of shs.119,900,000,000 to record the highest earnings.

He added: “We are riding on the current positive image our 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”

Fast growing indigenous owned hotel group, Pride Inn Group will be among firms from Kenya participating at the annual fair.

Pride Inn Group Managing Director, Mr Hasnain Noorani said that they aim to leverage on this global travel trade platform to showcase its latest attractions that includes Meetings Incentives , Conference and Exihibitions (MICE) which have grown  to become key options for tourism and hospitality  within the East African Coast.

Last year, the hotel groups flagship resort, Pride Inn Paradise Beach Resort Convention Centre and Spa in Mombasa County hosted the Skal Global Congress that was attended by close to 1000 delegates from around the world.

The German market remains among one of Kenya’s key tourist source markets. It recorded 78,388 arrivals last year, a growth of 59.2% from 2017 that posted 49,247 arrivals.

The Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Betty Radier has in the meantime expressed her optimism that the current growth in tourism numbers will be enhanced, with a number of marketing strategies that KTB has put in place, besides government incentives.

“ITB is one of the platforms 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 Dr. Radier.

Kenya is among the over 180,000 exhibitors who are meeting to discover and negotiate the latest travel industry trends and opinions at the ITB, one of the largest tourism fairs in the world.