Online hotel booking sites see record numbers of tourist ahead of US President Barrack Obama visit to Nairobi, Friday for the six Global entrepreneurship Summit (GES) 2015.
His visit is seen as a great endorsement for the country’s Tourism and Travel that has been facing several challenges including travel advisories and terrorism threats.
Estelle Verdier-Managing Director for Jovago.com East and Southern Africa says is a great endorsement to Kenya as a safe destination.
“the success of this summit and the President’s visit primarily recognizes Kenya’s position in the global economy and positions the country’s business and environment as both secure and rewarding” she said.
Kenya’s Travel and Tourism plays a big role in contribution to the GDP and the first summit to be held in Subsaharan Africa has boosted confidence to growth of the industry in the coming years.
Two days ago, Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and caterers (KAHC) announced all hotel rooms in Nairobi were fully booked to Friday, citing business would move to satellite towns and at the cost for holiday lovers.
Jovago.com, is a leading online hotel booking platform which has partnered with over 25,000 hotels in Africa to ensure speed and ease in online bookings-it is banking on these deals to boost traffic and earnings.
GES is part of the major events lined up to take place in Kenya in the second half of 2015.
Kenya will be hosting the Africa Travel Association in November while the tenth World Tourism Ministerial Conference will take place in December.
The coastal capital of Mombasa is also scheduled to host the Mombasa International Cultural Festival in November, with stakeholders expressing renewed optimism after the UK lifted its non-essential travel ban on the region.
These events, as Verdier says will be good opportunity to showcase the industry’s new frontier in Meetings and Incentives, and its hosting ability.
According to the World Economic Forum -2015 report on Global Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index Ranking, Kenya has improved steadily, jumping from position 103 in 2012 to a promising 78 in a report that covers 141 countries across the globe.
The report released in May, also ranks Kenya as one of the most searched destinations online at position 10, by visitors looking for natural tourism.
Kenya heads the pack in East Africa while further ranking an impressive 5th position in the sub Saharan Africa region.
