Keeping up with Kenya

“Kenya is a very magical place. It’s difficult to tell you about it until you’ve been there,” said Susan Webb, president of VoX International, yesterday at a luncheon dedicated to promoting the East African country’s latest developments in tourism.

Two major announcements included the opening of a new airport in Isiolo, a town in the Eastern Province of Kenya about 285 kilometres north of Nairobi, as well as the construction of a now-operational terminal at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), making Canadian travel to Kenya all the more accessible.

“The new terminal [at JKIA] is world-class and definitely state of the art,” said Webb, addressing the crowd of nearly 60 people – a mix of travel agents, buyers and media – who attended the info session hosted by the Kenya Tourism Board in the Main Dining Room of the University Club of Toronto.

Among other updates: Canadians travelling to Kenya can now utilize the country’s new user-friendly online e-visa application, which starts at $51 USD for a single-entry pass into the country (multi-entry visas must be obtained in person by immigration officers in Nairobi). Travellers can still, however, obtain entry visas upon arrival.

Major hotel chains in Kenya are also popping up with the construction of the new Radisson Blu and Four Points by Sheraton hotels in Nairobi – a sign that tourism in Kenya isn’t slowing down.

“There’s been a growing interest in Kenya over the past five, ten years,” said Webb, crediting movies like Disney’s The Lion King and wildlife documentaries, such as African Cats, for piquing people’s interest in seeing lions and elephants in Africa.

But there’s the aging population too. “Baby boomers who see Kenya as a destination to check off their bucket list,” said Webb, adding that multi-generational travel – parents and grandparents who take their children and grandchildren on a vacation to Kenya – is a popular trend.

African safari trips are, for obvious reasons, the biggest draw. The region lets tourists see free roaming cats, giraffes, zebras and rhinos up-close and in a variety of ways, from the comfort of a jeep to the basket of hot air balloon to while riding on horseback or hiking by foot.

But the fun in Kenya doesn’t stop there. “There’s also bungee jumping, white water rafting, the beach experience along the Indian Ocean and even UNESCO heritage sites, like Lamu Island, where the only transportation is by donkey or boat,” noted Webb.

Golf, too, is also a booming business. “We’ve had big groups out of Canada go for golf and safaris,” said Webb. Notably, the International Association of Golf Tour Operators, known as the IAGTO, awarded Kenya the title of 'Best Undiscovered Golf Destination in 2009.

With its isolated and remote regions, Kenya is a hot destination for the rich and famous (Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and Bill Gates are regular customers). And the country jibes well with the royals – Kenya, famously, is where Prince William first proposed to Kate Middleton.

But tourism to Kenya hasn’t always been an easy sell over the years following ongoing Al-Shabaab attacks and crime threats throughout the region. “Obviously there have been challenges in the last few years,” said Webb.

“Kenya has its pockets,” said Andrew Ricketts of VoX International. “Things happen in the outskirts that are beyond anyone’s control and it impacts tourism.”

But conditions are improving and tour operators are optimistic. This past year, both the United States and the United Kingdom lifted travel bans to Kenya and cruise ships are going back into ports along the Mombasa coast. Flight options to Kenya, too, are available among more and more airlines, such as South African Airways, Kenya Airways, KLM and Ethiopian Airlines.

But what stands out the most about the East African country? “The people,” said Webb. “Their generous, Hakuna matata attitude towards life. They like to have fun, sing and dance.

“Kenya is a really wonderful place.”

For more information, visit magicalkenya.com.

PHOTO: Of VoX International: Alexis Mayer, account manager; Susan Webb, president & Andrew Ricketts, public relations manager