Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) plans to organize an all-year round cultural festivals in counties in a bid to increase tourism products and attract additional visitors in the country.
KTB Acting Chief Executive Officer John Chirchir has said the festivals have helped open-up tourism circuits and spurred growth in the hospitality sector, while at the same time positioned culture and heritage as drivers of tourism growth in the country.
“The benefits of having cultural festivals in our counties is immense to the tourism sector value chain, for we expect hotels and facilities to record full bookings during these festivals. Additionally, businesses that are supported by tourism will benefit from the many visitors we expect at the events” said Chirchir.
This comes as Samburu County plans to host the 30th edition of International Maralal Camel Derby from this week which is expected to attract both local and international tourists.
“It is worth noting that this is the first camel derby we are hosting with a fully tarmacked road from Mararal to Nairobi in many years. This infrastructure improvement has significantly reduced travel time, making the journey from Nairobi to Mararal now taking only four to five hours, compared to the previous longer travel times. Additionally, the security measures put in place are exceptional, allowing attendees to feel safe whether they choose to explore the area during the day or enjoy the festivities at night” said Johnathan Lelelit, Samburu County Governor.
The derby will showcase camel racing and other activities that are central to the Samburu culture.
