Nomad issue #23

EVENTS
MAGICAL TRAVEL
EXPO 2019
By Clara Orina
Photos courtesy MKTE
The 9th edition of the Magical Kenya Travel Expo (MKTE)
came to a close after three days of a highly engaging event
which saw over 200 exhibitors showcase their products to
over 150 global buyers from Kenya’s 25 key source markets.
Speaking at the event, CS for tourism & wildlife, Najib
Balala, said that the presence of over 134 buyers is a positive
indication of their readiness to sell this destination to all the
visitors within their networks.
“To sustain our growth in the tourism sector, the
government has refocused its efforts on areas of safety
and security, infrastructure improvement, incentives as well
as sustained campaigns on source markets to increase
destination awareness,” he said.
This year’s event which took place from 3rd to 5th
October made for better engagement as well as innovative
ideas that will drive the sector. There were round table
discussions on the latest tourism trends as well as insights
on how the sector can capitalize on technology to drive
business.
For instance, one of the meetings was about the
significance of storytelling in driving business achievement.
Presently, local storytellers form an integral part of telling the
African story in a way that is meaningful and memorable.
However, this can only work when the main drivers of tourism
such as travel agencies, tourism boards as well as hotels
and other accommodation facilities recognize the value of
stories and the people who narrate them in defining the travel
experience.
The last day of the event tackled the role of big data in
informing the future of responsible and sustainable tourism.
Data drives a great percentage of decision making and is
vital to ensure proper planning, which consequently assists in
maintaining the delicate balance between profitability and
sustainability.
Through its matchmaking programme, the MKTE 2019
event targeted to deliver over 5,000 confirmed meetings. A
standby matchmaking team was at the hosted buyers lounge
to assist with this in case one needed assistance with their
appointments.
“MKTE affords our partners the opportunity to access a
gathering of Africa’s tourism leaders, policy makers, global
buyers, local and international media,” said KTB CEO Dr.
Betty Radier. “It is becoming a must-attend event for travel
trade regionally and beyond.”
Other tourism boards that also participated in the event
and sought to position themselves as major destinations in
the region were from South Africa, Rwanda, Seychelles and
Uganda.
NOMAD MAGAZINE 2019 15