Magical Kenya Travel Expo is back, to be held virtually
MARKETING: Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) will virtually host 300 people during this year’s two-day Magical Kenya Travel Expo (MKTE) to be held from October 5 to 6.
Chief executive Betty Radier said of the virtual participants, 200 will be buyers of products, while 100 will be exhibitors.
She said MKTE continues to be the premier regional travel expo that allows both the trade and hosted buyers to connect.
“This year we plan to bring together 200 buyers and 100 exhibitors to reignite the magic of travel as we showcase our rich products and experiences to global trade,” said Radier.
The annual event was postponed in 2020 due to the Covid pandemic. It brings together regional and international tour operators, travel agents, destination agencies and various other players in the tourism trade to network and facilitate tourism business.
Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala described the event as a great opportunity for tourism stakeholders to connect and market their various products, adding that the expo has exponentially grown to attain continental status.
He said this year’s virtual event is a welcome opportunity for local exhibitors including hotels and travel agencies to benefit from the platform that will generate new business through interaction with local and international trade.
“It is yet another opportunity for hospitality industry to network and explore business opportunities at the leading travel trade expo in East Africa which has grown to become a continental event,” Balala said.
Digital space
He said the digital space had presented an avenue to transact and continue doing business even in the current period when there is reduced travel globally.
“This year, we shall be holding MKTE virtually to ensure that we continue to grow tourism business and so that we don’t lose any opportunities. I want to welcome global travel agents, buyers and product owners to participate in this virtual event,” said the CS.
During the two-day expo, the platform’s interface will have directory listings, options for meetings, choice content sessions where participants will have a variety of live sessions to choose from and will also have debates and forums from industry experts to choose from.
The buyers include tour operators, travel agents and destination management firms from Kenya’s key tourism source markets in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas.
