ITB Berlin, the leading travel show providing a business platform for global touristic offers came to an end at the back drop of a lot of optimism in Kenya’s tourism sector. The Kenyan Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala and a Kenya delegation attended important international meetings like the Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF), as well as the UNWTO sideline sessions which also introduced few of the candidates for the UNWTO Secretary General position.
Mr. Balala gave an update on the tourism sector to the media at the destination press conference that was held on the inauguration day of the ITB. He also met with important tour operators in the European market like Condor and Thomas Cook on long-term partnerships and marketing corporations. Over the years, these companies have supported marketing Kenya as a preferred destination to their clients. Kenya was also represented at the 32nd meeting of the UNWTO World Tourism Network on Child Protection, which focused on the role of governments in advancing the fight against the exploitation of children in tourism.
To quote Mr. Balala, “Kenya must continue to present her tourism offering in international forums to ensure that the destination is top of mind for travelers and marketing destination companies, ITB is one such platform. Tourism plays a key role in the Country’s economy and can therefore not be underestimated.”
