By Rading Biko
Tour operators in Kenya have been urged to embed
Inclusivity, sustainability, and resilience in their business models to ensure
that the sector continues to be a driver of economic and social progress.
Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) Chief Executive Officer
Dr Betty Radier says that the current travel trends and scenarios require that
tour operators change their model of operation from travel coordinators to
experienced designers to cater to the current traveller.
KTB CEO DR Betty Radier
making a presentation during the forum which was held in Nairobi.
“The new traveler is discerning and very demanding,
especially because they can see everything online. They choose their next
travel destinations based on the offerings available which then requires us to
have a competitive edge against other destinations. Tour operators need to move
from just being coordinators to now also selling opportunities and experiences
to attract the interest of the traveler. Investment in the human resource will
be important for us to achieve this goal” Said Dr Radier
She added that the Industry players should embrace
sustainability and also play a role in building the resilience of the sector to
ensure that it can withstand crises like the Covid-19 pandemic.
The KTB CEO made the remarks during a stakeholder
consultative forum organized by the Kenya Association of Tour Operators (KATO)
to discuss the status of Tourism recovery and key activities going forward as
well as insurable risks in tourism and available solutions.
Kenya Association of Tour Operators (KATO) CEO Fred
Kaigua says that partnerships between the private sector and government have
been key in the recovery journey of tourism businesses in Kenya noting that
tour operators are already experiencing an average of 49 per cent improvement
in their businesses.
“The collaborations we have had with the Kenya
Tourist Board (KTB) and other government agencies are already bearing fruit and
the sector is looking up. Currently, we have an average improvement of 49
percent with most operators benefiting from this. That said, we still have
others who are yet to get to this level and the goal is to have all players
move forward together. We are experiencing demand for travel which is
promising. Travelers who had postponed travel are now rebooking which is a
positive for operators” Said Kaigua.
The Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF) Chairman, Fred
Odek lauded the collaboration between government and the private sector at a
time when the pandemic had affected business. He assured that the private
sector would continue to play its role in bringing in visitors and selling
compelling packages. He added that the destination was open for business and
that Kenya should be on their bucket list destination for all travellers.
The Kenya Association of Tour Operators (KATO) is
one of Kenya’s leading tourism trade associations representing the interests of
over 300 tour operators in Kenya. Their membership comprises both large and
small operators. Some of their roles are to maintain the highest possible
standards of service and integrity and to create business opportunities for
members.
