East African Regional Tourism Expo and the 2023 Magical Kenya Travel Expo commenced with a bang!
EARTEMKTE 2023 commenced with the introduction of a fresh tourism brand for East Africa. The event, which marks the third edition of the East African Regional Tourism Expo and the 2023 Magical Kenya Travel Expo, is currently underway in Nairobi, the lively capital of Kenya, the host country. Kenya is proudly showcasing the regional expo alongside its flagship event, MKTE.
Over the next three days, the expo aims to highlight the best facets of tourism from each participating country within the East African Community (EAC). The opening ceremony, held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, saw representatives from all seven EAC countries – Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
While each nation passionately presented its unique attractions, a unified message echoed throughout the ceremony, urging the region to deepen its integration and collectively market and promote its tourism offerings. Dr. Alfred Mutua, Kenya’s Minister of Tourism and Wildlife, the event’s host, stressed the importance of presenting the region as a common destination for a more robust tourism industry.
Dr. Mutua emphasized the significance of regional circuits and called for collaboration to promote the region’s tourism. He identified challenges hindering tourism growth, including the need for improved air connectivity among East African countries, enhanced safety and security, dispelling perceptions of insecurity, and diversifying tourism offerings to attract a broader audience.
The Minister underscored the untapped potential of the region, citing opportunities such as cruise tourism along the Indian Ocean that runs through East Africa. He also highlighted the importance of championing sustainability to preserve the environment and uplift the socio-economic conditions of citizens.
Various speakers, including the Ministers of Tourism from Uganda and South Sudan, Kenya’s Minister in Charge of EAC, the EAC Deputy Secretary General, and high-level delegations from Rwanda and Burundi, echoed the call for a unified approach to tourism marketing.
A notable highlight of the opening ceremony was the introduction of the “Visit East Africa” brand, expected to galvanize the marketing and promotion of the region’s tourism. EARTEMKTE 2023 has attracted significant attention, featuring 110 hosted buyers and 309 exhibitors from 33 countries. The three-day event has captured the interest of both international and local media, solidifying its status as a pivotal moment in the East African tourism calendar.
