World Tourism Day Which Was Celebrated In Nakuru County On The 27th of September 2022

World Tourism Day has been held on 27 September each year since 1980. The date marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Statutes of the Organization in 1970, paving the way for the establishment of UNWTO five years later.

World Tourism Day returned to focus on the future. As the tourism sector’s recovery gets underway and builds on unprecedented political and public recognition for the sector, UNWTO sought to highlight the opportunity to rethink how we do tourism. This means putting people and the planet first and bringing everyone from governments and businesses to local communities together around a shared vision for a more sustainable, inclusive and resilient sector.

In Kenya, this year’s World Tourism Day which marked the 42nd edition since it was affected by UNWTO United Nations World Tourism Organization was celebrated in Nakuru County on 27th September 2022 at the recently renovated Nyayo Gardens in Nakuru City CBD.

Every year, the Nakuru County Tourism Association NCTA in collaboration with the County Government of Nakuru and other stakeholders joins the world to celebrate world tourism day. In each of the annual celebrations, NCTA has curated unique celebration activities in line with the United Nations World Tourism Organization UNWTO theme. This year’s global theme is ‘rethinking Tourism’.

In line with this year’s theme, NCTA crafted a unique event dubbed ‘Celebrating the Gastronomy of Nakuru City’. Being one of the truest cosmopolitan cities in Kenya and among the newest cities in the world, there is a need to celebrate Nakuru’s beautiful culinary diversity. Through the event, the celebrations sought to promote the new city’s foods as an integral aspect of Nakuru’s cultural assets. The events also marked the beginning of building a new tourism frontier in gastronomy as part of our Nakuru County tourism diversification.

The Nakuru City food Festival as the locals called it featured a series of unique gastronomes that were diverse to each culture, region and dialect. This included;

Africana stand that showcased delicious snails’ cuisine taken with a tot of cactus wine and an array of innovative fish products such as tasty fish sausages, fish samosas, and other assorted unique fish cuisines

The Turkey Delight stand showcased amazing sizzling turkey meats and beautiful live turkey birds

The Cactus wine stand served and displayed smooth locally brewed cactus wine that not only refreshes but has lots of health benefits.

The Seafood stand showcased a wide variety of unique sea foods and delicacies including the mouthwatering octopus soup.

The inexhaustible stands offer local delicacies and drinks such as traditional fermented porridge, organic foods, traditional barbeque and so much more. This included Mursik from the Kalenjin, Muthokoi from the Kamba, Tasty goat meat from Maasai, Mukimo from Kikuyu, Ingoho from Luhya, Fish from the Luo, Swahili and Indian dishes, Jolof rice and pepe soup from west Africa, And the continental dishes for our current generation.

Besides celebrating the new city foods, the event was of a historical nature as it marked the first of the new county administration. The event also presented the public, tourism players, and stakeholders an opportunity to network, bond, and promote their products and services. The event showcased over 30 different cuisines drawn from diverse local cultures, Africana and continental.

The event attracted over 3000 delegates drawn from tourism and hospitality sector players in Nakuru County and beyond. The delegates comprised hotels, tour companies, tourism suppliers, academia, corporates, tourism government bodies and other stakeholders. It also had a great reception from the Nakuru City residents who came in large numbers to enjoy different types of tasty delicacies.

 

The event which started as a county edition five years ago has now gained National recognition in Nakuru as one of the most vibrant tourist destinations in the country. Representing the cabinet secretary in the ministry of tourism and wildlife Hon Najib Balala, Professor Charles Musyoki affirmed that Nakuru has great potential in MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events). He added that with the conferment of city status, Nakuru can now play in the international league of MICE destinations proposing a formation of a Nakuru convention bureau that can bid for international events.

Mr. David Mwangi, the chairman of Nakuru County Tourism association thanked the new county administration lead by Her Excellency Governor Susan Kihika for affirming her administration commitment to supporting tourism and hospitality in Nakuru County. County Government of Nakuru deputy governor His Excellency Hon. David Kones Kecheiyat thanked NCTA for putting together such a great event. He also thanked the national government for supporting such initiatives and encouraged Kenya Tourism Board and Tourism Fund to work closely with the local associations since they understand their destinations better.

The event was also graced by senior officials and representatives from Tourism Regulatory Authority, National Museums of Kenya, County Government of Nakuru, Nakuru Business Community as well as Tourism and hospitality Stakeholders. The agencies commended the organizers noting that the event is timely since it is coming at a time when Nakuru City is positioning itself a ripe MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events) destination in the region.

PR, Media & Marketing Agency