NAIROBI, Kenya June 10-Tour operators in Kenya have been urged to embed Inclusivity, sustainability, and resilience in their business models to ensure that the sector continues to be a driver of economic and social progress.
Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) Chief Executive Officer Betty Radier says that the current travel trends and scenarios require that tour operators change their model of operation from travel coordinators to experienced designers to cater to the current traveler.
“The new traveler is discerning and very demanding, especially because they can see everything online. Tour operators need to move from just being coordinators to now also selling opportunities and experiences to attract the interest of the traveler,” said Radier.
She added that the industry players should embrace sustainability and also play a role in building the resilience of the sector to ensure that it is able to withstand crises like the Covid-19 pandemic.
The KTB CEO made the remarks during a stakeholder consultative forum organized by the Kenya Association of Tour Operators (KATO) to discuss the status of Tourism recovery and key activities going forward as well as insurable risks in tourism and available solutions.
Kenya Association of Tour Operators (KATO) CEO Fred Kaigua says that partnerships between the private sector and government have been key in the recovery journey of tourism businesses in Kenya noting that tour operators are already experiencing an average of 49 per cent improvement in their businesses.
“The collaborations we have had with the Kenya Tourist Board (KTB) and other government agencies are already bearing fruit and the sector is looking up. We are experiencing demand for travel which is promising. Travelers who had postponed travel are now rebooking which is a positive for operators” said Kaigua.
Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF) Chairman, Fred Odek lauded the collaboration between government and the private sector at a time when the pandemic had affected business.
He assured that the private sector would continue to play its role in bringing in visitors and selling compelling packages.
