34 REGION AFRICA /
34 REGION AFRICA / AFRICA MIDDLE EAST Kenya: Tropical Beach Destinations Thrive Amid Improved Security Ndegwa Muriithi, Managing Director of the Kenya Tourism Board, is at ITB Berlin to reassure the industry that security concerns have been dealt with and to highlight some of the most stunning tourist destinations in the world. These are just some of the key messages that the Kenyan tourism chief wants to communicate during the trade show. We want to reinforce to travellers that Kenya is an ideal destination for tropical beaches - Diani, voted Africa’s leading beach destination in the World Travel Awards 2014, bears testimony to this. Further, we offer safari adventures, activities like golfing and diving, and facilities for business and conferences. We have it all in one country and we continue to offer diversified tourism products year-round. We also want to reassure travellers that Kenya remains a resilient country with all economic activities running normally; and that security incidents reported in the past have been dealt via robust security measures put in place by the Kenyan government. How safe is it to travel in Kenya? All tourist attractions within Kenya are safe and we do admit that there are areas within Kenya which we would not recommend visiting for security reasons, specifically the remote areas along the border to Somalia – which are hundreds of kilometers away from Kenya’s tourism circuits. In our coastal resorts, as well as in our National Parks and Reserve, there have never been any issues threatening the security of our visitors. Ndegwa Muriithi Managing Director of the Kenya Tourism Board … WE CONTINUE TO OFFER DIVERSIFIED TOURISM PRODUCTS YEAR-ROUND. What kinds of tourist attractions are fast growing in popularity? Our MICE sector is growing very fast thanks to Kenya’s steady economic growth, with Nairobi a regional business hub and home to many multinational companies. Specialist excursions such as birding and naturebased tourism are also becoming increasingly popular. Meanwhile, our beach products remain unrivalled, with Diani crowned Africa’s leading beach destination in 2014. Hall 21 A Stand 108 Remarkable Rwanda A nation associated with civil war in the 1990s, today Rwanda is rapidly becoming one of the world’s most talked about tourist destinations. Travellers to the tropical forests of Rwanda have long been lured by the mythical mountain gorillas celebrated in the 1988 film, Gorillas in the Mist. But although seeing these placid and peaceful creatures promises to be one of the world’s most exciting wildlife experiences, Rwanda offers a wealth of natural and cultural attractions backed up by fast improving tourist infrastructure. Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda, is one of the cleanest and most modern cities in Africa that now boasts many new hotel developments including the Radisson Blu and Marriot Hotel – both are due to open 2015. Throughout the country, new luxury lodges have been introduced, including Condenast Traveler’s 19th best hotel in the world, and Africa’s 4th best safari lodge. Although the gorillas remain Rwanda’s top tourist attraction, they are just one of a plethora of primate species. RWANDA OFFERS A WEALTH OF NATURAL AND CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS Rwanda is also home to one of the highest concentrations of birds in Africa, with over 700 species. Many can be seen on game viewing safaris in Akagera National Park. Just two hours from Kigali, the park is home to big game such as elephant, buffalo, leopard, hippo, zebra and giraffe. Lions are being reintroduced later this year and Black Rhino early next year. Lastly, tea is Rwanda’s largest export product and the country’s stunning green plantations can be seen throughout the country via ‘tours for the senses’. Hall 21 A Stand 113 ITB BERLIN NEWS • Friday 6 th March 2015 www.itb-berlin-news.com
AFRICA / AFRICA MIDDLE EAST REGION 35 The Gambia Keeps Smiling Beaches, birds, sunshine and culture … but most of all warm hearts Madagascar’s New Minister Of Tourism Has Big Plans For A Big Island The Gambia remains a rising star on the beach holiday circuit for European travellers, having avoided the Ebola threat on the west coast of Africa – a relatively low 9% drop in visitor numbers reflects the fact that no Ebola cases were detected in The Gambia. The tiny nation continues to be the self-proclaimed Smiling Coast, offering visitors beaches, birds, sunshine, culture and its biggest asset: the warm and hospitable Gambian people, who also speak English as the official national language. With tourism remaining the fastest-growing sector in The Gambia, the country’s Honourable Minister of Tourism and Culture, Benjamin A. Roberts, talks us through his nation’s key messages at ITB Berlin 2015. We are facing the future optimistically and concentrate on our strengths. Gambia is an almost year-round destination for affordable beach holidays, while the hotel offer has been amplified in the recent years – which we are working hard to further extend. The Gambia is easily accessible from Central Europe, and holidays can be enjoyed in hardly any time via regular flights from capital cities. Benjamin A. Robert Honourable Minister of Tourism and Culture, Gambia What are your upcoming marketing and communications campaigns? Our focus is to enhance relationships with key tour operators and to develop new relationships. The goal is to expand to new markets such as Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia. Apart from beach vacations, The Gambia offers perfect possibilities for longer journeys. For example, The Gambia River travels across the entire country, and there are small lodges along the river offering space for 10-12 people. Eco-tourism plays an important role and we pay a lot attention to environmental protection. Tourism along the river concentrates on small groups that want to get in touch with nature and the local traditions. Hall 21 A Stand 106 Having studied in Geneva and risen through the ranks of Madagascar’s Government Offices, His Excellency Jacques Ulrich Andriantiana has been Minister for Tourism, Transport and Meteorology less than a year. In an interview with ITB Berlin News, we asked him what have been his first actions in this crucial role? The priority is economic growth. Tourism should be used as a development key in all sectors of which I am in charge, and should increase Madagascar’s branding through the arrival of more international tourists. Not only does tourism bring foreign currencies but it also contributes to the development of the entire economy. What are your main objectives? We aim to reach 400,000 visitors in Madagascar for 2015 and to reach 1 million tourists for 2020 especially by diversifying our main source market: Asia, Northern Europe, America and Australia. We will also improve the quality of tourism products and services, and implement the national strategy for tourism and hotel business skills How do you hope to achieve this? We hope to achieve our main objectives by bringing our hotels and airports up to international standards – including the extending of the main airports, and implementing direct flights to Sainte Marie in time for Whales Festival in July 2015. We will also increasing international, regional and domestic flight frequencies, adding more aircraft to our fleet. What are the key attractions of your country as a tourist destination? Madagascar is an exceptional destination thanks to the highly varied types of tourism possible here. Our leading tourist product is without a doubt nature, with 80% of the wildlife and 90% of the plants being endemic. Culturally speaking, the Malagasy have also succeeded in cultivating the diversity from their distant migrant roots, which makes the Great Island a country lying somewhere between Africa and Asia. This Jacques Ulrich Andriantiana Minister of Tourism, Transport and Meteorology of Madagascar is why Madagascar is such an authentic island. Then, for those seeking adventure and memorable experiences off the beaten track, the NOT ONLY DOES TOURISM BRING FOREIGN CURRENCIES BUT IT ALSO CONTRIBUTES TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ENTIRE ECONOMY. island offers tourists more adventure playgrounds than they could possibly want. Finally, there is the last frontier: an island of coves, coral reefs and empty white beaches, real spots for snorkelling, diving, fishing, cruise ships... anything is possible with its 5,000km of coastline. Hall 20 Stand 103 ITB BERLIN NEWS • Friday 6 th March 2015
