Come Live The Magic
First Quarter: Visitor Numbers Up By 0.8%
International arrivals within the period (July –September), closed at 591,996, compared to the same period last year which posted 587,385, indicating a growth of 0.8%.
During the period, arrivals through the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) closed at 420,770 which is a growth of 4.8% compared to 401,533 in 2018/19.
Moi International Airport Mombasa (MIAM) received 28,850 visitors, compared to 28,614 in 2018/19, representing a 1.1% growth. Cross-border arrivals closed at 127,862 which a decline of 13.4% compared to 147,576 in the same period in FY2018/19.
The latest UNWTO Confidence Index findings postulate that global tourism performance for 2019 remains positive yet cautious and with signs of moderate growth for the remainder of the year. The growth has been driven by some strong economies, affordable air travel, increased air connectivity and visa facilitation.
Tips For The Markets
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is Kenya’s leading Europe market with a total of 40,287 visitors contributing 9.5% of the market share in the months of July and August 2019. It is one of the top five spenders on outbound tourism which is steadily on the rise and now at 70.4 million.
Here are the top 5 drivers of what a UK traveler will look out for and which you should consider as you tap into the market.
- Is a place I would be proud to tell people I have visited
- Has great shopping
- Is a place that allows me to de-stress
- Offers adventures that everyone can enjoy
- Has people that are friendly and welcoming
Germany
Arrivals from Germany in the months of (July- August), 2019 closed at 12,626 with a share of 3.0% of the total arrival. Next time you are planning to venture into this market, here are some of the top 5 consideration of a German tourist
- The safety of the place to visit
- Offers adventures that everyone can enjoy
- Has people that are friendly and welcoming
- Is a place to spend quality time with friends and/or family
- Offers distinctive experiences during all 4 seasons
Get more information about KTB’s activities for the markets from October to December 2019 here>>
Domestic Traveler Looking Out For Adventure Get-Away
There is a growing interest in adventure tourism among domestic travelers. Weekend getaways and holidays are perfect timing for this group.
The main categories of adventure activities you can consider for your package to this client are;
- Soft activities such as birdwatching, hiking Safaris, diving or Eco-tourism.
- Hard activities that include caving, mountain climbing and Trekking among others
Read more here>>
Festivals: Low Hanging Fruits For The Local Travel Trade
Did you know that cultural festivals and events held annually in different parts of the country, is a fertile ground to grow your domestic traveler bookings?
Cultural events such as Maralal camel derby, Lake Turkana cultural festivals, Lamu cultural festivals, Rusinga among others have continued to record domestic travelers.
Check out on the dates of the festivals, plan early and reap out of these events
- Lake Turkana cultural festivals: May
- Maralal Camel derby: August
- Lamu Cultural festivals: November
- Rusinga Cultural festivals: December
Upcoming Events In Source Market
ITB Asia Singapore, three slots up for grabs October 16-18, 2019. ITB Asia Singapore
Venue: Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands
Kenyan trade set to showcase in Singapore. It is a three-day B2B trade forum with a prescheduled/guaranteed buyer.
For more information on the event please log on to https://www.itb-asia.com/