Tourism
From The Report: Kenya 2016
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The tourism industry is going through a challenging period, as security concerns have taken a toll on the leisure segment. The government and private investors are working to improve security and, in the meantime, the sector is diversifying and focusing on areas such as business tourism and the domestic segment.

Kenya has one of the biggest and most diverse tourism industries in East Africa, with offerings in a range of niches including the meetings, incentives, conferences and events (MICE) segment and safari ecotourism. Following two high-profile terrorist attacks, there was some pressure placed on visitor numbers and hospitality revenues. In response, the government and a number of private investors are taking steps to improve security and re-establish Kenya as a safe, attractive destination for visitors.

This chapter contains interviews with Mahmud Janmohamed, Managing Director, Serena Hotels Africa; and Robert Muriithi Ndegwa, Managing Director, Kenya Tourism Board.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Changing tack: Sector setbacks are driving the tourism industry to diversify
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Kenya has one of the biggest and most diverse tourism industries in East Africa, with offerings in a range of niches including the meetings, incentives, conferences and events (MICE) segment and safari ecotourism. However, in recent years challenges have arisen for the sector that have negatively affected the country’s economy, including two high profile terrorist attacks. Following the attacks, a raft of security advisories were issued from countries that traditionally make up a large percentage…

Interview

Proactive policies: OBG talks to Mahmud Janmohamed, Managing Director, Serena Hotels Africa
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Interview:Mahmud Janmohamed What are the main obstacles for the sector? MAHMUD JANMOHAMED: The Tourism Recovery Task Force recently submitted a report to the president that included input from the industry’s main stakeholders and detailed the challenges the sector is currently facing. The principal obstacle is the negative perception of Kenya as a destination. We see this as primarily a public relations problem, as many other countries have dealt with similar issues, and yet they have not…

Interview

Setting new targets: OBG talks to Robert Muriithi Ndegwa, Managing Director, Kenya Tourism Board (KTB)
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Interview:Robert Muriithi Ndegwa What specific initiatives is the KTB currently undertaking to speed the recovery of the market? ROBERT MURIITHI NDEGWA: We are working to engage local industry stakeholders – public and private – as well as the international market, and we have put several measures in place to address the needs of the sector. First, we have created a Tourism Recovery Task Force (TRTF) composed of public and private players to identify measures that will help get the sector…

Analysis

Business potential: Kenya looks to business tourism to drive growth
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With leisure tourism in Kenya impacted by current global perceptions of the country’s security situation, the industry is turning to the business travel segment to make up the shortfall, with increasing emphasis being placed on the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) segment. Prospects It is hardly surprising that Kenya has turned to this niche to stimulate growth. MICE is increasingly recognised globally as a key component of a healthy tourism industry. In Kenya, this is…