Kenya exhibits at World Travel Market fair

By Judy Ogutu

The Kenya Tourist Board (KTB), Government representatives and stakeholders will represent the country at the World Travel Market which starts on Monday.

Backed by 37 travel firms at the London fair, the team will promote the country’s diverse and niche products.

The country’s major highlight will be perspectives of Vision 2030, which recognises tourism as one of the six key sectors that will drive the country’s economic growth.

Among other issues, the vision emphasises on increasing bed capacity to 65,000 by 2012 and the number of tourists to about three million annually.

KTB is encouraging the private sector to expand bed capacity, especially in new regions like the western Kenya and north Rift tourist circuits.

World Travel Market is one of the popular international exhibitions held annually. It provides a unique opportunity for the global travel trade industry to network and stay abreast with the latest trends in the sector.

Last year, 46,945 participants from 202 countries attended the fair. Kenya has been represented at the event since the 1990s.

The country earned Sh56 billion from the sector last year.