Kenya, South Africa to strengthen tourism ties

In a bid to improve tourism between Kenya and South Africa, South African Tourism  (SAT) held a trade workshop in partnership with Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA) and South African Product owners (SAPO) at Crowne Plaza Hotel in Nairobi on Tuesday as part of an initiative that will further enable KATA to mine more revenue from South Africa.

The partnership will also enable association to negotiate for more affordable rates for Kenyans in order to enable more Kenyans to travel to South Africa to explore business opportunities or simply for pleasure.

“As South African Tourism we are very passionate and enthusiastic about the East African market especially Kenya. We greatly understand the lucrative potential that this market has to offer South Africa and we are very excited for Kenyans to explore the great opportunities South Africa has to offer. Inter-regional travel coped with the unmatched travel discounts we aim to offer KATA will ensure that both Kenya and South Africa benefits from this exciting partnership” said Bontle Madiba, SAT Regional Trade Relations Manager Africa.

The trade workshop – with the theme of Heritage, Hospitality and Sustainable Tourism Development – played host to a number of Kenyan and South African travel exhibitors with an aim of selling travel products, services and offerings to the travel trade industry. The conference comes just days after South Africa’s Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba announced an ease in visa regulations in order to enable more tourists to visit and tour the country. This initiative will enable South Africa to grow the already 400 Billion Rand industry that contributes about 8% of the country’s GDP.

Speaking during a press conference at Stanley Hotel, KATA CEO Nicanor Sabula expressed his confidence in the partnership. “This is indeed a momentous partnership between Kenya and South Africa. The partnership will enable KATA to provide fantastic opportunities for Kenyans be it for business or pleasure purposes. We have been promoting destinations such as Dubai and Turkey to our citizens and it is now time we sell our neighbor South Africa in order to create new and exciting opportunities for Kenyans and the rest of East Africa as a whole.”

The improved security status in the country coupled with the relaxed visa processes will aid in enticing more people to visit the largest country in Africa. The South African delegation received a Kenyan immersion from the KATA members in order to help them get the full Kenyan experience and get to see what the Kenyan Nation has to offer. The South African delegation toured the Giraffe center and the Maasai market, they also enjoyed an array of Kenyan cuisine.

Educational campaigns on the various offering of South Africa will be conducted in order to showcase the vast business opportunities and leisure opportunities the country has to offer to the rest of the world especially Kenya.