New online hub to list all tourism products

An online platform listing all credible tourism products in Kenya has been launched.

Dubbed Tourism Product Directory, the platform will be hosted on the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) website: Magical Kenya.

It seeks to complement traditional channels of tourism marketing and improve the country’s competitiveness in the sector.

Speaking at the launch of the platform, Ms Phyllis Kandie, the Cabinet Secretary in the East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism secretary, said the platform targets local, regional and international travel and tourism providers.

“It provides them with an open business opportunity to easily make contacts and explore partnerships with other listed providers,” she said.
The directory is divided into three parts: tourist attractions, accommodation facilities and tour operators.

Kenya Tourism Board managing director Muriithi Ndegwa said the platform grew out of a meeting between the World Bank, the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) and the ministry a year ago. to seek ways of increasing Kenya’s competitiveness in tourism products.

SET CONDITIONS

“Institutions seeking to be listed on the platform must meet at least seven of nine set conditions,” Mr Ndegwa said.

He added that the platform would be a live document that would be updated regularly to include new and upcoming businesses. It would also provide an updated version of the products available all the time.

“The importance of an online presence in marketing tourism cannot be gainsaid. Key segments of the audience we are targeting heavily rely on social media and online platforms as key sources of information,” Ms Kandie said.

Through the medium, counties have an opportunity to showcase their diverse attractions, she added.

The government recently announced it had set aside Sh140 million for global advertising campaigns and charter airline promotions.

“The campaigns set to kick off in the next few weeks will target international media outlets in our source markets like Europe, America, Asia and Africa, among others,” Ms Kandie said.

This is in addition to efforts by the government to promote domestic tourism as a key component of recovery efforts of the sector.

“This segment has proved resilient, especially during low seasons, and we are keen on taking the subsector to the next level,” said the CS.

He added that the ministry would soon launch a domestic SMS campaign to cash in on upcoming holidays through KTB.

“We have set aside over Sh8 million for the campaign,” she said.