Kenya has been on the spotlight in several high-profile events, including the Africa Climate Summit to the East Africa Regional tourism Expo (EARTE), resulting in an increase in the meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) subsector in 2023.
According to John Chirchir, Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) Ag. CEO, during the recently concluded Youth Connect Summit at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital Nairobi is fast becoming a focal point for regional and international gatherings given its facilities and central location.
“This year, we have witnessed an increase in international conferences and events hosted in Nairobi. Recently, we hosted the inaugural Africa Climate Summit which brought together close to 30,000 delegates and several heads of states. We also recently hosted the East Africa Regional tourism Expo (EARTE) which brough together 310 exhibitors and 109 key travel trade from 32 countries,” he said.
This was an excellent recovery from the time of pandemic whereby the MICE subsector in Kenya was greatly affected. According to Kenya’s tourism sector performance report 2022, visitors on business and MICE accounted for 27.2% of the total international arrivals in 2022 as compared to 2019 where the market segment accounted for 13.5% of the total arrivals. “The increase in conferences and global events in the country is a remarkable achievement, especially coming from the pandemic period when physical events had been halted,” he added.
The summits and conferences act as a showcase of the city’s immense potential on the international stage. They are also a testament to the strategic efforts and plans put in place to actively continue to promote Nairobi as a top-tier destination for global conferences.
“As we host the Youth Connect Summit to Nairobi, with youth leaders from all 54 African nations coming together for this important event, it is a testament to Kenya’s appeal as a prime conferencing destination. We expect hotels in Nairobi to be full during this period and tourism businesses to reap the benefits of the event,” said Chirchir.
As more events like the Youth Connect Summit continue to shape the future of tourism in Africa, Kenya is prepared to lead the way in showcasing the dynamism of African cities, with Nairobi poised to be a focal point.
Email your news TIPS to Editor@nairobilawmonthly.com, and to advertise with us, call +254715061658 anytime of the day
