- Photo caption : Alex Tunoi -KTB; Ikechi Uko Akwaaba Travel market, Judy Kahuki – Sarova Hotels;Consaga Khisa Destination Connect; Fiona Ngesa – KTB; Kiiru Mahiaini; ITL Safaris; Steve Biko- Sarova hotels
…Collaborate With Trade Partners To Organise Magical Kenya
…As Kenya Airways Promises To Increase Frequency On Lagos –Nairobi Route To 10 In Summer
The Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) has said that its target is to grow the tourism arrivals from Nigeria to Kenya by 10 per cent in few years’ time.
This is just as the Board also informed that Kenya presently receives over 35,000 tourism arrivals from Nigeria.
The Marketing Manager, Kenya Tourism Board, Alex Tunoi disclosed while speaking to a select journalists at the just concluded Magical Kenya Roadshow at Sheraton Lagos Hotel yesterday.
Speaking on this year’s Magical Kenya and what the board is expecting and what tourists should expect, Tunoi said that there a lot of attractions such as Urban Adventure, which according to him has grown tremendously in Kenya, adding that there are a lot of new developments that are happening within the city.
These new offerings and developments, he pointed out are what Kenya Tourism Board is bringing to Nigeria.
According to him, “There is an opportunity for shopping, an opportunity for fine dining, for golfing, for the traditional circuits as well, like safari, wildlife and also breath-taking beaches as well. This is what we are bringing into this market because we realise that Nigerians are beginning to seek for a lot of this. We are seeing them coming into Kenya to consume these products. This is what we are bringing out to the market.”
The Manager hinted that the most patronised offering by tourists from Nigeria is the Urban Adventure, adding that what makes it Magical Kenya is the variety of experiences and products that Kenya has to offer, which ranges from wildlife to beach activity, to adventure, to unique culture, adding that these blend of products makes the destination attractive and interesting and that is the magical experience that we are bringing to the market.
Speaking on how safe Kenya is as destination, the Marketing Manager, KTB, said “Kenya is a safe destination. The government has put measures in place to ensure that travelers are able to enjoy their experiences in a safe and fun environment. So that answers your question.
Kenya, he said is affordable compared to other East African tourism destinations as there arevarious kinds of products and services to cater for every individual needs.
He added that working with its partners here in Nigeria, two operators they can customize packages for everyone depending on what the tourist needs are.
In his words, “It is affordable and depending on what you are looking for, Kenya can afford you that.”
Also speaking, the Sales Manager, Kenya Airways, Nigeria, Rotimi Martins, said that the reason for this event is that the KTB is trying to sell Kenya to West African as a tourism destination.
He stated that prominently Nigeria and Ghana, has that traction to give them the population they are looking at to enter Nairobi, adding that the essence is to boost leisure and tourism for Kenya.
He explained that anytime KTB is having an event of this nature, Kenya Airways must surely be part of it to collaborate with them to make it a success, stressing that is why Kenya Airways also known as KQ was part of the Magical Kenya programme.
“That is why we are here as a partner in business and as a sister company to KTB. That is the essence of today’s event. You can see that a pretty lot of people you are seeing here are travel agents or we call them trade partners. They are the people that will assist us boost destination Kenya. That is talking of Nairobi, Mombasa, Diani and the host of other tourist points in Kenya. So that is the essence of the event.
On the possibility of increasing Kenya Airways frequency and capacity in view of the expected increase in the number of tourists visiting in Kenya from Nigeria
The KQ, Sales Manager said, “Frequency increment has been a thing we are looking at even before the KTB event. Presently we are doing 7 flights out of Lagos, which is every day. But come April we are going to add one to it, to make it eight. But come the summer of this year, we are going to do 10 flights out of Lagos to Nairobi.
“Come April, based on this event that you are seeing, we are doing a seven days flight out of Lagos. But we are going to increase it to eight come April. Additional one flight, which means on day seven of every week we will do morning and night. But come June, we are going to do 10 out of Lagos. That is at the inception of the summer period. Then towards the end of the year, a little bit after summer, we are going to start Abuja. We will be flying out of Abuja and out of Lagos. Most likely 15 to about 18 flights out of Nigeria. That is what we are going to do.”
Speaking on whether the whole idea about Kenya Airways increasing its frequency and capacity is borne out of the competition posed by the new entrant into the Nigeria route, Uganda Airlines, Martins dismissed, saying that Uganda Airlines is not competing with KQ.
Other partners who are working with KTB to make Kenya a tourism destination and to also sell other destinations in East African country to tourists from Nigeria and other West African countries are Destination Connect, Sarova Hotels, travel agents among others
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