ABEIKU WHO? SANTANA TOURISM: Once Again Shows ‘OTHERS’ how it should be done…as Tourism Expo in Kenya Dances Red-Gold-Green (with a conspicuous Black Star)

Abeiku Santana & Friends in Kenya

In case you don’t know, lets us tell you that the country of Kenya is currently hosting the Magical Kenya Travel Expo which started on the 3^rd of October, 2017 and would end on the 5^th of October, 2017 in Nairobi; and feted radio broadcaster, Abeiku Santana is there, as they would say, “putting Ghana on the map”. He was (is) sponsored by Kaya Tours Company Ltd, Kenya Airways and Adepa Shoes Ghana Ltd. Since his touch down in the Kenyatta country, he has been keeping all of us updated with his everyday chronicles, effectively using all his social media handles posting photos of exhibitors and other participants in at the event. Let us tell you that this year’s Travel Expo has over 180 exhibitors, trade visitors, media and tourism professionals are participating.

The theme for this year’s edition is “Discover Experience Connect”. This travel Expo is one of the biggest travel tourism exhibition positioned in East Africa to showcasing new products and services that attest to the variety of experiences they have. The 2017 Magical Kenya Travel Expo noticed some big changes after the Kenya Tourism Board appointed global exhibition management company to grow the show for the next five years.

Hosted buyers from more than 25 countries have been selected through a stringent evaluation. Transport, Tour Operators, Accommodation, Destination Marketing and Technology are participating at the Kenyatta International Convention Center (KICC). Among the expanded events programme schedule for the expo includes a special session on the status of online bookings with guidance and advice on how to better sell online. Hosted groups, online travel apps such as TripAdvisor, Google and Expedia will take participants through the new innovative digital marketing with strong focus on creating a community within a the destination.

Kenya’s tourism has been gradually been recovering at the back of improvement in security and aggressive Marketing adopted by the Government. The year 2017 has been touted as one of the best years for the sector according to tourism experts. The high political climate and the annulment of the President election results has extended the uncertainty of the country’s direction.

Nevertheless, the number of international visitors has increased from 324,476 last to 358,985 this year, according to data from Kenya Tourism Board. The hotels and hospitality industry recorded an impressive bed night’s occupancy from 1.3 million in January to 1.8 million in August this year.