Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) wants tour operators to include tea tourism experience as part of their travel package for both local and international visitors. KTB Ag. CEO John Chirchir says the tea tourism experience is a ready product to be packaged and included in travel itineraries as part of the bigger strategy to diversify tourism offerings to the traveler.
In a statement during a tour of tea farms and tea tasting by trade mission visitors from Malaysia at Kipsigis tea Highlands factory in Bomet county, Chirchir emphasized the need for the tourism travel trade to leverage the popularity of Kenya as a tea exporting country to package and sell tea experiences tours.
“We are already on the global map as a tea destination and we have to leverage this opportunity by showing the visitors how we process our popular tea from the bush to the cup, “said Chirchir
A delegation of Malaysians representing different sectors of trade is visiting Bomet County for investment opportunities in the trade and tourism sectors.
Bomet County governor Prof. Hillary Barchock while leading the mission on tea farm tours said the combination of tea tourism and wildlife safari will enhance the visitor experience in the South Rift region.
“Our county is a gateway to the famous Masai Mara game reserve and having tea tours as part of travel itineraries in the South Rift tourism circuit is a perfect combination of an authentic Kenyan safari,” said the governor.
He disclosed that Bomet County will annually be hosting a tea marathon in Kipsigis Highlands as part of the initiative of popularizing the tea experience.
“In November this year, we shall be having a debut tea marathon in Bomet, that’ll be an annual exercise which will reinforce the position of the county for tea tourism besides other existing attractions” added the governor.
Peter Mutinda, Africa Director of My Events International in charge of trade and investment networks said Malaysia was fertile ground for Kenya to get tourists. “There is a high potential in this country as the people are interested in wildlife safari and our good weather and we should capitalize on this,” said Mutinda.
He observed that the middle-aged groups in the country had disposable incomes and were ready for travels and ready for leisure travel and investment opportunities.
“Asia should be our next tourists source market that Kenya needs to explore and take advantage of their growing economies, “he said
Kenya’s High Commissioner to Malaysia Francis Muhoro who led the Malaysian trade mission underscored strong bilateral relations between Kenya and Malaysia as an ingredient to robust trade between the two countries.
He said Kenya is set to benefit from expected increases in trading volumes, transfer of farming technology, education, and other sectors of the economy with close cordial ties.
He said Malaysia has finalized arrangements to receive avocado fruit from Bomet, with governor Barchok expressing his hopes that the county will be Kenya’s largest exporter of the fruit in the next three years.
According to the governor, his County also received University scholarships for 10 students to study for various courses at Saito University College.
Voice of Tourism
