The Kenya Tourist Board (KTB), in conjunction with Kenya Golf Marketing Alliance (KGMA) and the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) will launch a new golf guide, Golf in Kenya, at this year’s World Travel Market.

The guide will contain comprehensive reviews on Kenya’s 40 golf courses, including factsheets on the individual courses.

The publication is part of the overall strategy by the tourism board and associations to promote Kenya’s world-class championship golf courses combined with the world’s best safari destination. 

With the sustained growth of African tourism in global markets, Kenya has emerged as a significant player in the highly competitive field of international golf tourism.

In November 2009, the International Golf Travel Writers Association awarded Kenya the prestigious title of ‘Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year’. Two years on, there are three new ‘international standard’ courses under construction on the coast and some of Nairobi’s famous courses are undergoing extensive upgrades which will be completed by 2013.

There are a range of courses for the golf enthusiast, including the infamous Fairmont Mount Kenya Golf Course which gives visitors the chance to play in the shadow of Mount Kenya, Africa’s second highest peak. The course not only offers amazing views of the mountain but the area also has an abundance of wildlife with many herds of zebra and giraffe peacefully grazing nearby, as well as the odd lion or two. Additionally, the course lies on the Equator, so guests can start their game in the northern hemisphere and end it in the southern hemisphere.

David Stogdale, Chairman of KGMA said “no other country comes close to offering the same combination of unique wildlife, beautiful beaches, fascinating cultures, and world-class golf. Kenya is unbeatable in every single one of these categories.”

The golf guide is supported by the former World No. 1 and US Masters Champion, Ian Woosnam. Who described Vipingo Ridge, a 2,500-acre residential golf estate 30km north of Mombasa, as “one of the most beautiful coastal courses anywhere in the world.”

The current promotion strategy aims to double the number of golf tourists visiting Kenya by the end of 2013.

For more information on Golf in Kenya please visit  www.magicalkenya.com / or call 0207 367 0931

-Ends-

For further press information contact:                                        

Natalie Schofield / Daniela Resenterra

Tel:  020 7367 0925 / 0971

Email: natalies@hillsbalfour.com / danielar@hillsbalfour.com

The Kenya Tourist Board launched an online charity auction to raise much-needed funds for, Just a Drop.

The auction will run until Monday 19^th December and is open to all. Participants have the chance to bid on a variety of unique prizes, from hotel stays in the UK, to a year’s supply of Kenyan roses as well as coffee and tea, or even a unique holiday to experience the magical Kenya.

All money raised will help to provide water and sanitation facilities and build a greater quality of life for those who need it most.

Just a Drop was launched in 1998 and has since undertaken 65 water aid projects and helped over one million children and their families across 29 countries. Their mission statement is ‘Safe Water = Saved Lives’. Since 2005 Just a Drop has funded many projects in Kenya, providing water and sanitation facilities to two different projects in Kenya: Rainwater Harvesting Project at three Schools in Kibwezi District and the provision of safe drinking water and sanitation facilities for two primary schools in Ruiru.

Kenya Tourist Board urges everyone to log onto http://auction.kenyapromos.co.uk and support this very worthy cause. 

Please also help us spread the world about the auction by tweeting @magicalkenya and including the trend #kenyacharityauction.

For more information on Kenya visit www.magicalkenya.com or call 0207 367 0931

-Ends-

Note to editors:

Above picture features Kenya Tourist Board Managing Director, Muriithi Ndegwa and President of Just a Drop, Colonel John Blashford-Snell at World Travel Market 2011.

Below is a full list of the prizes and sponsors:                               

• Prize 1: Luxury beach and bush holiday
• Sponsors – Kenya Airways, Heritage Hotels, Lantana Galu Beach Resort
• Prize 2: 11 night safari and beach holiday
• Sponsors – Virgin Atlantic, Airkenya Express, Sun Africa Hotels, Turtle Bay Resort
• Prize 3: Seven night stay in Kenya
• Sponsors – Enashipai Resort, Jacaranda Indian Ocean Beach Resort, Glory Safaris
• Prize 4: Seven night Kenya beach getaway
• Sponsor – Papillon Lagoon Reef Resort
• Prize 5: Rugby VIP tickets
• Sponsor – Etihad Airways
• Prize 6: Romantic night at the Hotel du Vin, Brighton
• Sponsor – Hotel du Vin, Brighton
• Prize 7: Kenyan Red Roses for a Year
• Sponsor – Finlay’s
• Prize 8: First Aid Course
• Sponsor – First Aid For Schools
• Prize 9: Kaveke Men’s Bespoke Jacket
• Sponsor – Kaveke
• Prize 10: Meal for two at Palette at the Rembrandt Hotel, London
• Sponsor – Sarova Hotels
• Prize 11 – Case of Chateau Maravenne 2009 Rose
• Sponsor – Balfour France
• Prize 12: Charbonnel et Walker Chocolate Hamper
• Sponsor – Hayes & Jarvis
• Prize 13: A year’s supply of Kenyan coffee
• Sponsor – Al Azizah Coffee
• Prize 14: A Year’s supply of Kenyan Tea
• Sponsor – Tanjal

For further press information contact:     

Natalie Schofield / Daniela Resenterra

Tel:  020 7367 0925 / 0971

Email: natalies@hillsbalfour.com / danielar@hillsbalfour.com

The Kenyan Government has announced plans to enhance the countries business infrastructure with a 5,000 capacity convention centre planned for Mombasa and a similar conference centre in Kisumu.

Regarded as eastern Africa’s economic hub, Kenya has developed a long affinity with the meeting, incentive, conference and events (MICE) market, dating back to the first international conference held by the World Bank in 1973 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre’s (KICC) in Nairobi.

Today, this market accounts for around 14 per cent of the yearly overall tourism to Kenya, and has been identified by the Kenyan Government as an area for significant growth opportunities.

KICC managing director, Beatrice Makawiti said “Our country’s ranking in the industry has been rising exponentially (in the International Congress and Convention Association (ICAA) rankings), and now the country stands at No.3 in Africa, closing in on South Africa and Egypt”.

In the ICCA 2009 statistics Kenya was placed fourth on the continent for qualifying meetings. At the global level, Kenya has moved up four places to number 56 in the latest 2010 country rankings.

Tourism Minister Hon. Najib Balala has instructed the Kenya Tourism Development Corporation to proceed to the design stage for the convention centres in Kisumu and Mombasa.

Minister Balala said, “The Kenyan Government sees the long-term benefits of this market and is dedicated to continuing to invest and develop the required facilities to service this market.

“We see great opportunity for meetings, incentives, conferences and events and we plan to maximise this to its full potential,” he said.

Both projects are set to be completed by the end of 2012.

For more information on Kenya and how to experience please visit
www.magicalkenya.com or call 0207 367 0931

-Ends-

For further press information contact:                                        

Natalie Schofield / Daniela Resenterra

Tel:  020 7367 0925 / 0971

Email: natalies@hillsbalfour.com / danielar@hillsbalfour.com