NAIROBI, Kenya, March 16 – The Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) has urged tour operators to include tea tourism experiences as part of their travel packages, as the country seeks to diversify its tourism offerings.
Speaking during a tour of tea farms and tea tasting by trade mission visitors from Malaysia at Kipsigis tea Highlands factory in Bomet county, KTB Ag. CEO John 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
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.
Peter Mutinda, Africa Director 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.
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.
