The last quarter of the year traditionally would have been the roll call for the meeting of Africa’s travel and tourism trade. It wasn’t to be as a result of the dreadful coronavirus pandemic.
With the situation under control and vaccination rollout ongoing, travel and tourism is gradually coming back.
Africa’s travel and tourism trade is poised to use the power of technology to write deals and get access to the rich pool of exhibitors at this year’s novel virtual Magical Kenya Travel Expo (MKTE).
The virtual event will be held on the theme “Reigniting Magic Travel.”
This year’s virtual event is a welcome opportunity for local exhibitors including hotels and travel agencies to benefit from the platform that will generate new business through interaction with local and international trade.
“It is yet another opportunity for our hospitality industry to network and explore business opportunities at the leading travel trade expo in East Africa which has now grown to become a continental event,” said Najib Balala, Kenya’s Minister of Tourism
Kenya Tourism Board CEO Dr. Betty Radier notes that the expo will be key to showcasing the destination’s diverse tourism products and experiences.
“Magical Kenya Travel Expo continues to be the premier regional travel expo that allows both the trade and hosted buyers to connect. This year we plan to bring together 200 buyers and 100 exhibitors to reignite the magic of travel as we showcase our rich products and experiences to the global trade,” says Dr. Radier.
During the two-day expo, one-on-one meetings will be held on our highly efficient virtual meeting platform for both pre-scheduled meetings and speed networking sessions to reach key individuals. Participants can also get involved in thought provoking panel discussions and watch exciting on-demand videos of our destination.
The platform’s interface will have directory listings, options for meetings, choice content sessions where participants will have a variety of live sessions to choose from and will also have debates and forums from industry experts to choose from.
The buyers include tour operators, travel agents and DMCs from Kenya’s key tourism source markets in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas.
Format for MKTE 2021
This year, the event will be taking as a virtual format from tomorrow 5th October to 6th October. In an interview on the VA Tourism Podcast, Amanda Margison; co-founder of On-show Solutions, organizers of the MKTE, she rhapsodized her expectations for the show. According to her, the trade show is “a jam-packed program’’.
In her view, even though the show had to take a virtual form, it will not replace the physical events.
“After careful deliberations, the board came to a conclusion that the event takes an online setting for the safety of buyers and exhibitors. The event will feature over 100 exhibitors and 200 buyers,” she disclosed
The expo will offer trade and stakeholders the opportunity to listen to the pertinent but important topics of the time confronting the sector.
Key topics to be addressed during the program include; Travel with purpose, Women and Tourism, Tourism before and after the pandemic among other engaging discussions.
As an incentive, top buyers will have the opportunity to go on trips early in 2022
Story by Jenice Aidoo and edited by Samuel Obeng Appah
