More than 170 hosted buyers representing over 35 countries from Kenya’s key source markets in Europe, Asia, Americas, Africa and the Middle East are expected to grace the sixth edition of the Magical Kenya Travel Expo 2016.
This year’s MKTE will be held from 12th to 14th October 2016 at KICC under the theme “Tourism for all: Explore Endless Travel Possibilities.”- A theme informed by Kenya’s recent new initiatives to encourage travel and visits by tourists to its diverse tourism products.
During the official launch of this year’s expo, KTB Ag. Chief Executive Officer Jacinta Nzioka-Mbithi (Mrs) noted that the expo has continued to play a key role in intra-regional tourism growth with Eastern Africa countries registering high growth in tourist numbers for the first quarter of this year (January- March 2016)
“Uganda is our top market in the region and has recorded a 16% growth in arrival based on the first quarter results of the year (Jan-March 2016) with 8,200 up from 7,072 arrivals last year.” She said
“Rwanda has recorded a 20.1% with 2,815 arrivals up from 2,344 in the same period under review. Ethiopia, has posted 51% arrivals from 2,274 arrivals last year (Jan-march) to the current 3,454.” She added
Nzioka noted that 94% of the exhibitors last year were repeat participants which demonstrate that they are indeed getting value out of their participation
Coming at a right time
The expo comes at a time when our tourism products have been diversified with sport tourism and MICE tourism gaining moment. It also comes on the back of a raft of measures aimed at propping up the sector including the charter incentive, waiver of visa fees for children under the age of 16 as well reduction of park fees from $90 to $60.
This year, KTB has partnered with the private sector in developing professional and exciting pre-tour itineraries that are 100% experiential and tailored towards the hosted buyers’ product of interest to ensure that get maximum conversion.
The first three days of the exposition will exclusively be business to business meeting between the Kenyan travel trade and the international buyers.
