PHOTOS:KENYA LEADS EAST AFRICANS AT WORLD TRAVEL MARKET IN LONDON

World Travel Market (WTM), a travel trade exhibition, opened Monday 5th November, 2012 in Excel, London, the mood was that of celebration as fears over the global economy, particularly the Euro zone crisis, affecting the performance of tourism for the year 2012  were allayed by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). In a recent report by its agency, the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), UNWTO  reassured that global tourism was still robust and that forecast expectation would be achieved. This upbeat mood is expected to pervade the entire proceedings during the four days exhibition with over 180 countries of the world, including Kenya, represented by the Ministry of Tourism, in attendance, to showcase to the fascination of the travel world, the best of destinations and emerging trends in the travel trade.

A view of the Kenyan Stand at the exhibition (left) and on right caught on Wednesday 7th November, at the Kenyan Stand was left Ruth Chege, Sales and Marketing Manager, Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi, her sister Lucy Gichuhi (standing) who lives in London and Lydia Dentewo, General Manager of Spar Resort in Lake Bogoria. Ruth Chege is here to promote the new offers Safari Park Hotel is offering to Kenyans visiting Kenya among them wedding receptions, parties, conferences, accommondation and other events at affordable prices. You can contact her through her roaming Mobile +254 722857062 or email rehege@safariparkhotel.co.ke. Lydia contact for Lake Bogoria tour is lydiadentewo@lakebogoria-hotel.com

Kenya’s High Commissioner in the UK HE Ephraim Ngare (left) addressing the East African Community Conference on Wednesday 7th November at the Kenyan Stand Press Conference. He welcomed Kenya’s Minister for Tourism Hon. Danson Mwazo, MP to address the conference. Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda have combined forces together to Market East African Region with Kenya taking the chair this year. Among the guests at the conference was the Ministers from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. They were accompanied by the ambassadors of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Burundi among other guests.

Kenya aims at leveraging on its diverse products and professional private sector members to offer value added activities and experiential holidays in order to sustainably increase tourism yield and profits. The Kenyan trade will present niche product offers with endless opportunities for culture, incentive, adventure, coast, sports safaris eco-tourism. And if Obama wins tomorrow , The Kenyan stand will be an attraction in London! UNWTO and the organisers of the yearly travel expo, Reeds Exhibition, take the lead in unfolding the latest data from WTTC and leading discussions geared at stimulating the industry for the rest of the year and beyond.

Following uncertainty in the global market, the 2012 forecast growth of 2.8 per cent was earlier in the year downgraded to 2.7 percent by WTTC. The marginal downgrade by WTTC was predicated on the world Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth that was downgraded by 0.2 per cent from its 2.3 per cent growth as a result of the Euro zone problem. But the latest economic data from WTTC’s research partner, Oxford Economics, showed that the expected growth for 2012 is on course despite the marginal downgrades in the Euro zone and the United States since the beginning of the year, contrasting with upgrades in Japan and emerging markets. The report also revealed that South Korea’s annual Travel and Tourism GDP growth of 13.2 per cent is the highest of any G20 country. Its boom coincides with its self-designation of 2010-2012 as the “Visit Korea” years and strong international demand from its main two markets (Japan and China). Favourable exchange rates and a number of cultural, sporting and economic events have also contributed to its growth. – KLN

Rwandanese Dancers and Kenyan Maasai dancers entertained guests at the Stand

Source:misterseed