Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala has urged tourism providers to expand their products offering to deliver unique, authentic Kenyan travel experiences to travellers.

He said this during the award ceremony of the second phase of the Magical Kenya Signature Experiences (MKSE) held to recognise outstanding tourism offerings among Kenyan travel industry players.

Through the MKSE Program, which commenced in 2019, facilities and organizations are required to provide value addition to their offerings through exceptional travel experiences to the traveller.

In 2019, fifteen inaugural MKSE facilities that met the required criteria of a Kenya signature experience were recognised. The awards marked the beginning of a journey to deliver diverse tourism experiences in Kenya.

The second phase recognised 29 experiences with CS Balala noting that the program is aimed at meeting the expectation of the current discerning traveller who is keener on immersive travel experiences than ever before.

“We are glad to award twenty nine (29) new experiences to add to the Signature Collection. When we began this journey in 2018, our goal was to grow and diversify our products to ensure that we are a cut above other destinations and to also have products that offer an outstanding experience to suit todays demanding traveller. " said Balala.

To be part of the Program, facilities are required to fill out a pre-qualification Quiz, which has a set of 10 questions.

The next stage involves filling out of an application form followed by desk and on-site audits. Those that meet the requirements are then enlisted into the Magical Kenya Signature Experiences (MKSE) Collection.

CS Balala added that the MKSE program is one of key milestones of Kenya’s tourism transformation noting that despite the challenges of Covid-19, the industry was ready for kick-off once travel resumes fully.

“Last year was difficult for tourism due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic which has had a devastating effect to the industry. That said, a lot has been ongoing behind the scenes to ensure that Kenya comes back stronger. MKSE is part of our strategy to revive tourism in Kenya through partnership with the private sector which is a key component of tourism,” he added.

Commenting during the awards, Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) CEO Dr Betty Radier noted that the newly recognised facilities would have their products and experiences marketed for local and international traveller through FAM trips, exhibitions, collaborative initiatives, events, trainings to providing extra visibility while driving conversion for the respective companies.

“Kenya has curved her niche as a competitive destination with rich and diverse experiences across the country, available throughout the year and fit for different travel segments. Through this Collection we are able to show the world that Kenya has a lot more to offer beyond the iconic wildlife safari and the pristine sandy beaches for both the repeat and first times visitors.” she said.

She added that operators within the sector will need to be aware of the emerging trends and incorporate them in their business strategies.

“Some of these trends include search for authentic & immersive local travel experiences, slow travel, outdoor experiences to connect with nature, and the need to leave a positive impact in the destinations where they visit.” she added.

The experiences that were awarded are: