Addressing the public at a press conference held at State House His Excellency President Uhuru showcased the opportunities and possibilities that Kenya has to offer as the country prepares to welcome thousands of delegates as well as the President of the United States of America Barrack Obama who will attend the Summit.

“…it is my pleasure to co-host, with President Obama of the United States of America, the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) in Nairobi this weekend. It (the Summit) connects men and women of imagination and enterprise to their peers around the world. It exposes us all to new opportunities, while teaching us new answers to problems of wide concern,” said President Kenyatta.

Inaugurated in the USA five years ago GES has grown into a global gathering bringing together entrepreneurs, innovators, Government leaders and the youth among others.

President Obama is expected to arrive in Kenya on Friday 24th for the Summit that is expected to attract about 1,400 participants, with a large delegation accompanying President Obama. This is the first time the Summit is being held in sub-Saharan Africa. The choice of Kenya is seen as an acknowledgement of the country’s progress and potential in the continent.

“Kenya’s reputation for innovation and enterprise is fully deserved. It is our habit to take risks in the hope of bettering ourselves, and our country. Our innovators and entrepreneurs have certainly earned the honour of the summit. We will honour them in our turn if we welcome our guests with our customary hospitality, and if we represent our nation and our continent as well as we are able,” said President Kenyatta.

The impact of the Global Enterprennuershio summit on the tourism sector cannot be underestimated, this comes as a major endorsement of Kenya not just as a safe destination but as a maturing economy that many are eager to invest in. “The global exposure that Kenya will receive worldwide through this event will definitely see the destination brand equity rise. The visit lays ground for aggressive marketing strategies that the Kenya Tourism Board is planning for execution and we must not loose the opportunity to market Kenya, said Kenya Tourism Board Managing Director, Muriithi Ndegwa.

This comes after lifting of travel advisories thus giving impetus for aggressive marketing in Kenya’s two key traditional markets America and the UK.

Kenya has in the recent months attracted thousands of delegates from across the world as she positions herself as a major investment hub in the region. Other international meetings coming up this year include the World PR Conference in Emerging Economies, ATA, The Magical Kenya Travel EXPO and the Ministerial Conference of the World Trade organisation expected to attract thousands of delegates among others.

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Upon vehement intervention from tourism stakeholders, a grace period has been extended but only for two months, during which time tourists and business travellers arriving at one of the two international airports can still get their visa on arrival, but effective September 1, this dual mode will be scrapped and only the e-Visa process will be available.

Travellers would be able to apply for entry visas via a dedicated portal at www.ecitizen.go.ke from 2 July 2015. The e-visa process will then become compulsory from 1 September 2015.

How to apply:

1. Open website www.ecitizen.go.ke
2. Select register as a visitor
3. Once logged in, select Department of Immigration services
4. Select submit application
5. Select Kenyan visa
6. Select the type of visa and read the instructions
7. Fill in the application form
8. Pay using visa card, MasterCard and other debit cards
9. Await approval via email, then download and print the eVisa from your eCitizen account
10. Present your printed Visa at the port of entry

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Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) led the pack by retaining the Africa’s leading tourism board for the fourth time in a row. Maasai Mara Game Reserve was voted Africa’s leading National Park with Diani beach clinching Africa’s leading beach destination.

Twiga Tours was ranked Africa’s leading luxury safari destination as well as Africa’s responsible tourism company. Carlson Wagonlit topped as Kenya’s leading travel Management Company as well as Kenya’s leading travel company.

Naivaisha- based Spa Resort, Enashipai won as Kenya’s leading spa while Nairobi Serena triumphed as Kenya’s leading business hotel. It was also crowned Kenya’s green hotel.

The 22nd ‘Oscars’ of the travel industry’ awards were held at Kempinski resort in Seychelles and attended by players of the tourism industry from across the globe.

Speaking after receiving the awards, Commerce and Tourism Principal Secretary Dr Ibrahim Mohammed said, “The sterling performances by the industry will go a long way in building the country’s brand equity and called on the players in the sector to continuously improve on their service delivery.”

“Hospitality industry has to keep pace with the changing needs of clientele and therefore a need for constant improvement of product and services. These awards Kenyan travel trade has received today are demonstration of services improvement” said the PS.

KTB Managing Director, Muriithi Ndegwa welcomed the award for the best tourism board and attributed the success to the dedicated staff and support from the parent Ministry as well as the private sector.

Overwhelmed by the success, Mr. Ndegwa said, “We are honoured to win the title of the Leading Tourism Board for the fourth time running and this will add impetus to our marketing strategies despite the challenges that have bedeviled the sector in the recent past”.

He said the voting of Maasai Mara Game Reserve as Africa’s leading National Park and Diani as Africa’s leading beach destination was an indication of Kenya’s unbeatable position as a safari and beach destination.

“We are leveraging on these endorsements of our traditional products to push our other diverse tourism products across the country,” said Ndegwa

Seychelles Minister for Tourism and Culture Mr. Alain St. Ange told the travel industry that it was time for Africa to stand together and be counted despite all the challenges that were facing the sector.

He said Africa’s rich tourism products remain world’s admiration but regretted that the continent was only able to net close to 5% of the travelers globally and challenged the industry to showcase their best destinations.

The WTA was established in 1993 to recognize and reward outstanding achievements within the global travel industry and the awards are endorsed by celebrities, travel trade and press from around the world.

The awards have been hailed by The Wall Street Journal as the ‘Oscars’ of the travel industry’, and winners are nominated by over 40,000 travel trade professionals world-wide.

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Excellent, well stocked gift shops can be found in many hotels, lodges and camps throughout the country. But often real finds can be found a little further off the beaten track. For the dedicated bargain hunter, Kenya’s markets are the place to be. Markets selling all kinds of local arts and crafts can be found all over the country.

Nairobi, the safari capital of Africa, is a perfect place to combine the safari and shopping experience. Nairobi is a place of great contrasts where diverse cultures all become components of a unique Nairobi character. The city hosts several separate open markets on various locations around the city commonly christened the Maasai Market.Bargaining is the expected norm in Markets and even in some shops throughout Kenya. The art of bargaining has deep roots in Kenyan culture, and is regarded as an essential business skill.

Wherever you go in Kenya one can find endless shopping options. Major streets in Mombasa have numerous souvenir shops and galleries, and trader stalls are abundant on Moi Avenue and Nyerere Street.Tribal beads and bracelets are predominant, and will be presented to you for purchase almost anywhere you go. Soapstone from Western Kenya has been carved into an infinite variety of souvenirs, and can be acquired at very affordable prices. Wood carvings are economical and are widely found in every animal shape as well as salad servers and napkin rings. Lamu is an ideal place to shop for well priced coastal handicrafts. Lamu is famous for its woodcarvers, whose specialties include the famous carved Lamu Doors, Furniture, signboards and Swahili boxes, intricately carved and inlaid with brass, copper or marble work.

Maasai Market offers a range of colourful African artifacts such as baskets, Musk, bangles, earrings and Bead necklaces, wood carvings, T-shirts, safari hat etc. One of the great experiences for souvenir hunters is the Maasai Market, which can be found in Nairobi on different days. You can also visit a Maasai market in a Maasai village during your safari in Maasai Mara.

Shopping malls in Kenya are very convenient, places where you can do all your shopping in one location. Lucky for visitors Kenya has some excellent shopping centers where many excellent stores are side by side and some being open 24/7. Diamond Plaza, The Junction, Adams Arcade, The Village Market, the spinner’s web, Diani Beach shopping centre, Yaya Centre etc are some of the most famous shopping malls in Kenya.

Built to withstand tough terrains while still providing great comfort to the wearer, the Safari boot, hand stitched at the Bata Limuru factory has been a Kenyan icon for decades. Wherever it travels, it easily conjures up the image of Kenya. There are numerous Bata stores in Kenya famous for these Safari Boots.

You also get a chance to do duty free shopping at Nairobi Airport, which host a wide range of stores. There are African clothes shops, jewellery shop, book shop, fashion shops and Liquor shops, cosmetics, toiletries, gift items and much more.

Amarula Fruit Cream Liqueur, distilled from the fermented fruit of the Marula tree, a native of the African plains is also very famous in Kenya. The spirit is aged for three years, and then blended with cream. If you like Bailey’s you should give this a try. And the favorite tusker beer.

Last but not the least Kazuri’s hand-painted ceramic or glass beads jewellery. Every bead which makes up a necklace or bracelet is shaped by hand by one of the 300 local women employed by Kazuri. The beads are then kiln fired once, glazed and fired again before being strung. The workshop is in Karen, named after Karen Blixen of ‘Out Of Africa’ fame, on part of the farm once owned by her. Karen, a beautiful area just a few miles outside Nairobi, lies under the Ngong Hills between Kenya’s bustling capital and the spectacular Rift valley.

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Kenya is a beautifully endowed country; we have some of the most beautiful sceneries, beaches and variety of wildlife. Kenya offers a unique naturally beautiful environment for honeymoons and Romantic holidays. Kenya is an ideal honeymoon destination to celebrate your love and begin your life’s journey together. Whether it’s spotting the real-life cast of the Lion King, exploring a big city, or lazing around on some of the best unspoiled beaches in the world, Kenya’s got every honeymooner’s wish list covered.

From luxury and pampering to intimate and private personalized friendly services. You can have plush or rustic accommodations as you wish and almost all camps and small lodges have a “honeymoon tent” or “honeymoon suite” located in a way to ensure maximum privacy.

Its quintessential images of herds of elephants in front of snow capped Mount Kilimanjaro, hot air balloons above the Maasai Mara & the proud Maasai warriors has drawn honeymooners for years. It is the land which inspired Karen Blixen’s ‘Out of Africa’, a place of vast plains and abundant wildlife, coupled with endless white palm-lined beaches fronting the Indian Ocean. With every champagne toast at sunset, candle-lit beach dinner and every action packed game drive, a honeymoon in Kenya is sure to provide lasting memories.

The idea of candle light dinners in the bush, romantic walks, adventurous game drives, sundowners, hot air balloon rides, cruises, deep sea diving, snorkeling and much more are all available in Kenya and this makes it an ideal honeymoon destination.

Mombasa, Lamu, Diani, Watamu are some of the best & unspoiled beaches in the world. Along Kenya’s beaches you can expect to see traditional dhows sailing across shimmering waters, towns dotting the coastline featuring intricately carved doorways studded with brass, and white walls draped with bougainvillea. The fusion of Arabic and African culture combined with superb palm-lined beaches and azure blue ocean waters will entice any visitor to linger longer, especially when staying on Lamu Island. The Kenya coast and Lamu are the perfect destinations for a safari and beach honeymoon.

Explore the possibility of having your special moments sealed in this naturally endowed country where the sun shines through out and moonlight welcomes the sunset and sheltering sunshades that spell out nothing but pure Romance.

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The yoga event is the first of its kind in East Africa, and it will be joined by renowned international yoga teachers and practitioners from Kenya and around the globe. This unique festival blends yoga and meditation with the characteristics of Lamu island, and is immersed in its people, culture, tradition and natural beauty.

Yoga is an ancient physical and mental exercise with large health benefits and access to harmony and peaceful co-existence, and it has turned into a hugely popular practice across all walks of life worldwide. Lamu has developed different yoga venues over the last ten years with daily yoga classes taking place around the year, and the island is today considered a major wellbeing destination in Kenya.

Outreach projects in the local communities and schools are an important part of the Lamu Yoga Festival. Weekly yoga classes are offered to different groups of adults and children, in addition to an ongoing jigger campaign for medical aid, support to Secondary Girls School and Safari Doctors.

“Yoga can really empower communities and create harmony and togetherness”, says festival vice chair and yoga teacher Kelly Alomba.

A variety of yoga classes will be available in Shela, Lamu and Manda during the first Lamu Yoga Festival, and highlights will include a dhow sunset meditation, workshops like laughing meditation, Swahili diner at Bahari Bazar, and a grand finale beach party with Lamu drummers and acrobats.

The festival wishes to bring people together across cultures and religion, and to offer all levels of practitioners the opportunity to experience various forms of yoga under the guidance of 16 teachers from across the world. With miles of empty beaches, no cars, and abundant fresh seafood and produce, Lamu makes an ideal destination to leave behind the stresses of a fast paced modern life.

Partners of the Lamu Yoga Festival are Bikram Yoga Nairobi, Africa Yoga Project, Equity Bank, DTB Bank, Banana House & Wellness Centre, Safari Doctors.

For further information, please contact festival chair Monika Fauth, tel 0721-275538 /monika@lamuyoga.org, or vice chair Kelly Alomba, tel 0725-573658/ info@lamuyoga.org.

Visit us on https://www.facebook.com/Lamuyoga and www.lamuyoga.org

For more information please contact:
Kenya Tourism Board www.magicalkenya.com
C/o TRAC Representations India Pvt. Ltd.
Ms. Akanksha Sharma
Operations Office: M-2, Mezzanine Floor, Kanchenjunga Building, 18, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi-110001, India
Registered Office: A-61, 6th Floor, Himalaya House, 23, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi – 110001, India
Tel: +91.11. 23311289 | Mobile: 09873812364 | Fax: +91.11. 23350270 | Email : pr@tracrep.com
CIN No – U74899DL1992PTC051003

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The attraction of Kenya as both a golfing and tourist destination has been buoyed by its favourable climate which is a mixture of tropical and highland climate. The warm and sunny conditions make the country a great relaxation and sporting destination.

Kenya’s weather is ideal for golf all year round making it one of the world’s top golfing destinations.

Golf is undoubtedly one of the world’s best travelling sports. Golf offers the chance to relax and unwind in a natural environment while participating in a highly competitive and skilled game. Kenya is the best choice for the travellers who look for a wide range of golf courses, combined with world class standards and services.

The golf and country clubs have the best facilities and high quality services built on Kenya’s reputation for welcoming warmth. Most of the courses in Kenya have been designed using the natural landscape, which means that a round of golf in these world class golf courses is a nature walk in itself, with profusion of flora and fauna in and around the courses.

A variety of smaller courses offer unique geographical quirks for the connoisseur: from “Kenya’s only uphill course” on the slopes of Nakuru’s extinct Menengai volcano; to Mount Kenya Safari Club, where the Equator and a rich variety of wildlife cross the fairways; to one of the unlikeliest courses you’ll ever come across on the salt-encrusted shores of Lake Magadi.

Kenya’s golf courses stretch from the beautiful sun-baked beaches of the warm Indian ocean, to the spectacular Great Rift Valley, with its volcanic remnants and visible layers of the earth’s history in the making, to the green central highlands sporting Africa’s second highest mountain peak, to the lush and fertile tea country of the west. One of the most appealing features of golfing in Kenya is the variety found from course to course.

The capital city of Kenya, Nairobi is a modern city in the middle of hills, verdant forest and savannah plains. The combination of a modern cosmopolitan city and natural environs make Nairobi a perfect golfing destination. There are seven 18-hole courses including the historical Royal Nairobi Golf Club which came into existence in 1906, and the Muthaiga Golf Club which is home to the Kenya Open – A European PGA event.

The second highest peak in Africa, Mt. Kenya is home to one of the best golfing experiences in the world. This is where the prestigious Mt. Kenya Safari Club is located. The course at the club is a nine-hole golf course, which opens to an African jungle and sighting gazelles, monkeys, and giraffes while teeing is a common sight. It is the only place in the world where you can tee off in the northern hemisphere and putt out in the Southern as the club is not only built on lush green slopes of Mt. Kenya, but also directly on the equator.

A golfing holiday in Kenya would certainly be a memorable experience, where else can you get the opportunity to jump from the southern hemisphere and back again?

Mt. Kenya’s Safari Club gives the travellers a chance as the equator actually crosses the tennis court and golf course. If traditional are to be believed, a special occasion between the two hemispheres dictates to you long lasting happiness. This really sounds exciting so why not experience it yourself by taking up a golfing safari in Kenya.

For more information please contact:
Kenya Tourism Board www.magicalkenya.com
C/o TRAC Representations India Pvt. Ltd.
Ms. Akanksha Sharma
Operations Office: M-2, Mezzanine Floor, Kanchenjunga Building, 18, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi-110001, India
Registered Office: A-61, 6th Floor, Himalaya House, 23, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi – 110001, India
Tel: +91.11. 23311289 | Mobile: 09873812364 | Fax: +91.11. 23350270 | Email : pr@tracrep.com
CIN No – U74899DL1992PTC051003

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The Great Annual migration of Wildebeest in Kenya is the most exhilarating East African safari event that tops the list of a wildlife spectacle like no other. This annual natural event takes place between the months of July to September and involves millions of wildebeest accompanied by hundreds of zebra, antelope species of gazelles, impala and elands with their newly-born young as they attempt to cross the vast Tanzania’s Serengeti plains northwards into Kenya’s Maasai Mara National reserve in search of food and water.

It’s a tough journey, and every year an estimated 250,000 wildebeest don’t make it. This is one of the highlights as the animals try and cross the Mara River alive. The Maasai Mara form what no other reserve in Africa can! It is incredible, it is magic and it is indescribable.

Nowhere in the world is there a movement of animals as immense as the wildebeest migration. The animals have to cross the Mara River in the Maasai Mara where crocodiles prey on them. This is one of the highlights as the animals try and cross the Mara River alive.

The migrating herds undergo all manner of challenges and hardships as they move from region to region. They are constantly under attack from predators, none more so than from Africa’s big cats and the notoriously huge crocodiles that lie in wait at various river crossing points. But still every year, the cycle is repeated, with the animals following their strong migratory instinct and attempting to defy crocodile-infested rivers, wild currents, and flocks of predators lying in wait.

There are plenty of well-located accommodations in the Maasai Mara to enable the tourists to experience the migration, and nearly all scheduled tours and safaris to the country include excursions into the conservation areas.

July to October, the grazing animals take a four-month-long trek towards the Mara River. In desperate need of water to drink and grass to graze, the countless herds need to cross the river to reach the lush, green grasslands in Maasai Mara. The world’s most spectacular sight is the mass crossing of the swollen Mara River.

Wildebeest Migration is a sight to behold when on your wildlife safari and it’s even more awesome watching it on the ground or with Mara balloon Safaris. Watching this wonder from the sky is a life time experience. Maasai Mara Balloon safari is known as one of the best safari experiences in the world & watching the migration there is simply great. Hot Air balloon provides an aerial view of the “Greatest Game Show on Earth”.

The wildebeest migration phenomenon is so huge that satellites miles away in space are able to capture the surge as a black moving mass on the plains of East Africa. Going on safari to view & witness the Wildebeest migration is the ultimate safari experience that Kenya has to offer

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Lamu Old Town – The World Heritage Committee inscribed Lamu Old Town on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2001. It is the oldest and best preserved Swahili settlement in East Africa. Lamu has become a centre of study for Islamic and Swahili culture and architecture. There are no vehicles on this island, and the donkey and the dhow remain the dominant form of transport. For the traveller, Lamu is a hypnotically exotic experience, made even more enjoyable by the relaxed and welcoming attitudes of the locals.

Fort Jesus – Fort Jesus is an interesting place to spend a day exploring the gun turrets, battlements and houses within the walls. The majestic Fort Jesus is a National Monument, standing high over the Mombasa harbor. Fort Jesus was built by the Portuguese in 1593-1596 to the designs of Giovanni Battista Cairati to protect the port of Mombasa, is one of the most outstanding and well preserved examples of 16th Portuguese military fortification and a landmark in the history of this type of construction.

Lake Turkana National Parks – The World Heritage Committee inscribed Lake Turkana National Parks on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997. Lake Turkana is a massive inland sea, the largest desert lake in the world. This single body of water is over 250 kilometers long- longer than the entire Kenyan coast. It is widely known as the Jade Sea, because of the remarkable, almost incandescent, colour of its waters. It is a natural treasure, with the world’s single largest crocodile population. In Turkana these reptiles grow to record size, with some of the largest specimens found on remote windswept Central Island.

Kenya’s Lake Systems – The lake system compromises of Lake Bogoria, Lake Nakuru and Lake Elementaita. The three inter-linked relatively shallow lakes in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya cover a total area of 32,034 hectares. The Lake System is home to 13 globally threatened bird species and some of the highest bird diversities in the world. It is the single most important foraging site for the lesser flamingo anywhere, and a major nesting and breeding ground for great white pelicans.

Mount Kenya National Park – Mt Kenya is Africa’s second highest peak. It is regarded as the realm of Ngai, god of the local Kikuyu people. The mountain itself is an awe-inspiring sight with its ragged peaks and equatorial snow. This range from rugged glacier covered summits to diverse forests and rich afro-alpine flora.

Mijikenda Kaya Forests – It consist of 11 separate forest sites spread over some 200 km along the coast containing the remains of numerous fortified villages, known as kayas, of the Mijikenda people.

Kenya has got incredible diversity of landscapes, cultures, wildlife and activities. The traveller has endless opportunity to explore this beautiful destination. n Kenya, it is possible to plan a safari that blends adventure and relaxation, luxury and natural simplicity, social experiences and solitude.

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In solidarity with Kenya and its people, and on behalf of the international tourism community, UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai visited the country to highlight the economic importance of the Kenyan tourism sector, and convey his confidence in its strong resilience.

“Kenya is a true tourism success story and a long-term tourism leader, not only in Africa but globally. Over the years, the Kenyan tourism sector has become a backbone of the national economy and demonstrated a remarkable capacity to recover and regain momentum, which is why I have full confidence in its ability to bounce back even stronger. The world must hear from Kenya now. Kenya, with Africa, will move forward”, said Mr. Rifai.

On the occasion, Mr. Rifai met with the President of Kenya, Mr. Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, to explore further areas of cooperation between Kenya and UNWTO, as well as the importance of domestic tourism, increased regional cooperation, and the need for more precise travel advisories.

Mr. Kenyatta confirmed the Government’s commitment to keep advancing the tourism sector also in these trying moments, and highlighted the importance of co-existence and working closely with neighboring countries to stabilize and promote East Africa.

“Terrorism is not a Kenyan issue, it is a global issue. We just happen to live on the front line. We will not change our plans but rather work towards eradicating the problem and to protect our people”, said Mr. Kenyatta.

Mr. Rifai also met with the Cabinet Secretary for East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism, Phyllis Kandie, and the tourism task force, to further explore how UNWTO can assist public and private sector efforts to recover and consolidate Kenya’s tourism sector. At a joint press conference with Mrs. Kandie, Mr. Rifai reiterated UNWTO’s strong support to Kenya:

“Sometimes when we live in a country we do not see how the world sees us. The world has great respect for Kenya, as do the international tourism community. I want to assure you that we will do our part to help restore full confidence in this incredible destination”, concluded Mr. Rifai.

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