Kenyan tourism practitioners have converged in Abuja to promote African tourism.
The event tagged “Magical Kenya” brought together Kenyan tourism practitioners led by the Kenyan Tourism Board.
Speaking at the event, the Acting Kenyan High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Samuel Mogere said that Africa is blessed but that African must build the continent.
“Africans must bring themselves together to build Africa. We are no longer going to wait for the rest of the world to come and build our countries. Our countries must be built by our people. And the only way we can build our capacities is to allow free movement of people and good to each and every country. That is why we have the African Continental Free Trade Area which has now opened the space for all countries to integrate and come together.That’s the main agenda that we are driving, that for Africans, we must develop African nations”. Mr Mogere said.
He also called for a united Africa through tourism as an avenue to boost the economy of African countries.
According to him, God has blessed Africa with beautiful weather and scenery that needs to be developed.
Mr Mogere, pointed out that Kenya’s road map for 2024, aims to uniting Africa, through the presidential agenda of which ensures that African citizens can visit Kenya visa free from January 2024.
All other African countries to follow the same path as this will boost economic growth, infrastructural development and unity, He said.
“All countries are blessed one way or the other and the only way you can harness these resources is to come together” He added.
Mr Mogere noted that, tourism is the highest contributor to Kenya’s GDP and it can also be for other African countries.
The Marketing Manager, Kenya Tourism Board, Mr. Alex Tunoi, said that the Magical Kenya initiative was very significant as it was a means of increasing arrivals to Kenya.
Nigeria according him, has a huge market and Kenya hopes to increase traveling to Kenya for tourism.
“This is a diversification strategy by the tourism Board to increase arrivals into Kenya. We are focusing very heavily on Africa because we believe that Africa is the next frontier especially for tourism to Kenya” Mr Tunoi said.
He said that the essence of the fair was to showcase Kenya to more Nigerian travellers.
On his part, the Principal and Chief Executive Officer of Kenyan TeleColledge, Mr Anthony Mbehelo, said that Africa revolves around Nigeria, hence the need to collaborate and work together for good.
He said that the 48-year-old college is in talks with tourism institutions to train more Nigerians.
Similarly, the Regional Sales Manager of Sarova Hotels, Mr. Steve Biko Marangabassa, said that ” Nigeria is an important market”.
He said Nigerians are very adventurous people, very fun loving people who are not shy of looking for fun wherever they could find it.
“Your support is always felt as we look to open up Africa”
One of the tour operators based in Nairobi, Mr Konsada Keisa, said he was blown away by the turn out, the enthusiasm and the seriousness of the engagements of the participants.
He added that the fair ” exceeded my expectations and I believe this would see a significant growth in touristic travel between Abuja and Kenya”.
The high point of the fair was gift presentations and winning of free tickets to Kenya by four Tour operators from Nigeria.
Hauwa M.
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