KICC bets on renovations to grow conference tourism

KICC Chief Executive Nana Gacaga giving a gift hamper to a guest during the IMEX tourism global fair, in Frankfurt Germany. [Photo:Courtesy]

The Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) is scheduled for a facelift to tap growing conference tourism in the country.

The sprucing up is meant to ensure that conferencing at KICC is an all-round business. KICC Chief Executive Nana Gecaga said the corporation would increase the number of events it organises to attract more conference tourists.

“The corporation will organise at least four events per year to attract international participation. These will be held during the low-conference season.

“This will also help increase Kenya’s conference tourism market share. The centre will also undertake renovations from July this year to modernise the meeting rooms,” she said

Ms Gecaga spoke at the global fair, IMEX, in Frankfurt, Germany, where players in Kenya’s tourism industry exhibited their potential. The principal secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Fatuma Hirsi Mohamed, led a delegation that was tasked with marketing and positioning Kenya as a renowned business events destination.

The industry segment accounted for 32 per cent of tourists who visited Kenya in 2016.

Business and conference tourism was critical to the rebound of the tourism industry, which earned the country more than Sh99.7 billion, a 17 per cent growth, in 2015. The turnaround last year saw the number of visitors growing 13.5 per cent to 1.3 million.

According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, tourism's revival was due to the high profile conferences that took place in Kenya during the year.