Nigeria is one of the key focus markets in Africa for Kenya with a high potential to grow arrivals. This is according to Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife, Hon. Najib Balala who was speaking at a tourism stakeholders roundtable meeting in Abuja yesterday on the eve of the 61st UNWTO Regional Commission For Africa And ‘Tourism Statistics: A Catalyst For Development’ Seminar.
Hon. Najib Balala hosted a number of Nigerian travel agents in Abuja together with the Vice President of NANTA for Abuja, Ambassador Kayode Adeshola, the President of the Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria (FTAN) Alhaji Rabo Saleh, and the first Deputy President of NANTA, Susan Akporiaye, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel on 03 June.
The aim of the meeting was to bring Nigerian travel agents up to date with regards to the transformative journey of destination Kenya. Hon. Balala discussed the infrastructural development of the country, as well as the repositioning of Kenya as a high-value destination with signature experiences. Also on the agenda was Kenya’s national tourism strategy.
Hon. Balala mentioned that following a recently concluded independent research undertaken in the market, a number of gaps were identified when it comes to Nigerian travel agents’ knowledge of Kenya. Nigerian travel agents are currently lacking the necessary information to package destination Kenya and to adequately promote and sell the destination in their market.
To address this, the Kenya Tourism Board(KBT) will be undertaking three separate two-day skill-building workshops in Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt as follows: –
- 4th and 5th June 2018 @ Fraser Suites, Abuja
- 7th and 8th June 2018 @ Southern Sun Ikoyi Hotel, Lagos
- 11th and 12th June 2018 @ Swiss International Mabisel, Port Harcourt
Kayode Adeshole welcomed the possibility of Nigeria and Kenya working closer together and said: “NANTA is ready to collaborate with the Kenya Tourism Board to make Africa Tourism the pride of the world.”
