By Peter Ochieng
Preparations are in top gear, ahead of the 2024 symposium on tourism, with a view of exploring the readiness of Kisumu and Western Kenya as premier tourist destinations.
Lovely Garden Guest Home in Mkendwa, Kisumu will host the event, giving an opportunity to industry experts and stakeholders to amplify the discourse on tourism in the region.
According to organizers, diverse themes and topics will be covered during what promises to be a packed event, which include delving into the pull motivation factors that drive tourists’ loyalty to the Lake Victoria region tourism circuit, whether Kisumu and Western Kenya are primed to rival the tourism intensity of popular destinations like Mombasa, Kilifi, and Nairobi, and who holds the reins in shaping travel tour decisions, and what factors sway their choices?
Other topics are exploring the five stages of perception and how they shape the tourist experience and leveraging the successes of Africities Summit and the upcoming Festac Festival 2024 to fuel sustainable tourism demand in Kisumu.
Kisumu hosted over 5,000 delegates from around the globe during the Africities Summit in 2022.
The Lakeside City is getting ready to host the Festac Festival 2024, from August 25 to September 01, 2024, having been postponed from May 20th – 26th, as a result of flooding caused by heavy downpour during that period.
“The symposium also delves into Kenya’s aviation landscape. Discussions center on strategies to bolster Kisumu’s appeal to international airlines, potentially through infrastructure enhancements, marketing campaigns, route expansions, and collaborations with airlines and the challenges faced by Kisumu International Airport, despite its ranking as the fourth busiest in Kenya. The goal is to boost Kisumu’s international traffic and elevate its competitiveness in East Africa,” the organizers said.
Prof. Herman Manyora, prominent Kenyan analyst, commentator and University of Nairobi don will be the keynote speaker, while Farida Salim, Kisumu County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for trade and tourism, and Grace Mumo, CEO Festac among others, will take to the podium as featured speakers.
Tickets for the symposium are going for Sh1,000. One can register by visiting this website: https://www.lovelygarden.co.ke/experience-kisumu-western-kenya-symposium-2024/