13 September 2023
Kenya‘s Cabinet Secretary for Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage, Hon. Peninah Malonza, on Wednesday morning (13 September 2023) officially launched the East African Regional Tourism Expo (EARTE) and the 2023 Magical Kenya Travel Expo (MKTE). The two significant travel expos to be hosted by Kenya have been combined and are set to take place in Nairobi from November 20th to the 22nd, 2023.
The annual Magical Kenya Travel Expo (MKTE) has established itself as the flagship travel trade fair in the region, bringing together domestic, regional, and international tour operators, travel agents, destination agencies, and various other stakeholders in the tourism industry. The 12th edition of MKTE aims to elevate the event to global status, emphasizing its role in facilitating tourism business networking.
The East Africa Regional Tourism Expo (EARTE), now in its 3rd cycle, exemplifies the spirit of East African unity. Previous editions were successfully hosted by Tanzania and Burundi. This year, Kenya embraces the opportunity to showcase its tourism alongside its East African neighbors.
CS Malonza highlighted the seamless integration of MKTE and EARTE, emphasizing unity within the East African Community. “The twin expos offer the EAC member states an opportunity to network and explore new tourism business opportunities as well share current trends in the sector. They will also get a chance to go on familiarization tours to sample some of the tourism products and experiences that Kenya has on offer,” she said.
Malonza’s sentiments were echoed by the Principal Secretary, State Department for Tourism, Hon. John Ololtuaa, who stated, “The East African Regional Tourism Expo and Magical Kenya Travel Expo is a good blend of what the region has to offer to the world.”
The CS acknowledged the importance of regional source markets, with Uganda and Tanzania playing prominent roles, and noted the remarkable growth in markets like Rwanda, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Ghana, and Russia. The theme for both expos, “Tourism for Green Growth,” underscores the commitment to sustainable tourism in the region.
Also present was, the Principal Secretary State Department for Tourism, Hon. John Ololtuaa, the Principal Secretary State Department for East African Community, Mr. Abdi Dubat, the Principal Secretary State Department for Investment Promotion, Mr. Abubakar Hassan, and other distinguished stakeholders from the tourism industry.