Conversation with Dr. Betty Radier, CEO of the Kenya Tourism Board. You can download my complete list of ROAD TRIP PACKING for FREE.
If you want the latest inside information on Kenya, you’ll appreciate these answers to 10 questions I posed to Dr. Betty Radier, the delightful CEO of the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB). Her inspiring descriptions make me want to pack my bags and head back to visit Kenya.
1. Most people travel to Africa to see the wildlife, but travelers often return home more excited about the fond memories they have of the people and the relationships they made with locals. What things do you love most about Kenya?
I adore Kenya’s vibrantly diverse landscape. The Kenyan landscape covers a great range of terrain, from white sandy beaches at the coast to the 17,057 foot snow-capped peak of Mt Kenya, Africa’s second highest mountain. Kenya is one of the few countries on earth in which you’ll find vast expanses of savannah, highland ranges, equatorial rainforest, extinct volcanoes, and a series of fresh water and soda lakes, alpine glaciers, arid deserts and tropical beaches, all within the borders of a single country.
This geographical diversity is matched by a remarkable variety of wildlife that can be seen at close range—from grazing herds of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle, to elephants, buffaloes and rhinos as well as lions, leopards and cheetah. You can visit more than 56 iconic national parks and reserves, spot over 100 bird species in one day, track a lion, climb a volcano, dive in one of the world’s most stunning barrier reefs, and even ride an ostrich.
But what surprises visitors most are the friendly encounters with the people of Kenya. With more than 40 vibrant ethnic groups, visitors are welcomed with warm smiles accompanied by our favorite Kiswahili word, “Karibu,” which means “Welcome.”
2. Besides enjoying nature and wildlife safaris, what do you consider the top 5 things a visitor must do or see in Kenya? For those looking for a more local authentic experience, what’s your absolute favorite thing to do or place to visit as a Kenyan?
1. Have breakfast with a herd of Rothschild giraffes at the Giraffe Manor in Karen, which is not far from the outskirts of Nairobi City and the Nairobi National Park
2. Go mountain biking. Kenya has many excellent places for an off-road mountain biking experience—on the open plains of Hell’s Gate National Park, with views of giraffes and buffaloes or along Diani Beach in the South Coast or Watamu Beach in the North Coast.
3. Run in the Lewa Marathon, an annual athletic event held in the Lewa Conservancy of Northern Kenya, where participants race in the scenic outdoors to raise funds to protect Kenya’s wildlife from extinction.
4. Witness a traditional wedding ceremony. Take a guided tour of a Maasai village where you can observe a wedding or conduct your own wedding in accordance to Maasai culture.
5. Skydive over Diani Beach. Experience the once in a lifetime thrill of a freefall from 14,000 feet above sea level at 200 miles an hour over one of the world’s 50 best beaches. Experience this either through a tandem skydive or participating in a full skydive course.
3. Is there a particular season or best time to visit Kenya?
Not at all. Kenya enjoys good weather all year round and is perfect for travel anytime.
4. What’s the biggest misconception people often have about Kenya? How does this misunderstanding or myth affect your marketing efforts? What is the truth about this misunderstanding that you want people to know?
Many people mistakenly think that Kenya offers only beaches and safaris. Actually, Kenya is a global tourism destination offering many things, including diverse dining in towns and cities with mouthwatering cuisines—Indian, Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Lebanese, continental, local cuisine and more.
Kenya offers many sports and sporting facilities that meet international standards. E.G.:
• High altitude training camps in the Great Rift Valley and Central Kenya.
• Golf in the wild, in a city, or by the beach at numerous 18-hole golf courses.
• Local and Internationally renowned Marathons in many cities in the country.
5. Considering all factors, one can hardly dispute the relevance of African diaspora. How is the Kenya Tourism Board hoping to attract and engage the diaspora community and make Kenya the African diaspora destination of choice?
The diaspora is a potential market, listed as the category of Visits to Friends and Family (VFR). They have strong bonds with their family, friends and communities. They are able to come and visit on their own, and also to tag along their friends in America.
The new daily Kenya Airways direct non-stop flight will provide a smoother and much faster connection to Kenya.
The KTB, working with the Kenyan Embassy and partners, will continue to engage with the Diaspora community digitally and through events.
6. Most visitors to Kenya can get a visa on arrival. In fact, one can now get an East African tourist visa which gives them access to Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. Best of all, it’s a multiple entry visa meaning you can go in and out for 90 days. What has been the traveler’s response on this?
The Single Tourist Visa has been well received. However, we know there’s need for more awareness. The partner states of the East African Community continue to work on this.
7. It’s an exciting time for tourism in Kenya. I believe you have made huge strides to ensure sustainable travel tourism. Recently, for example, Kenya banned the use of plastic bags. What has been the reception to this from tourists and the locals?
Kenya is doing its part to safeguard the environment for posterity which is the primary resource that tourism relies on. The move to ban the use of plastic bags has been well received. Both Kenyans and tourists alike believe that this move will help a great deal in reversing environmental degradation.
8. Kenya recently achieved Category 1 status from the USA, with possible direct flights from the USA to Kenya and vice-versa. What would this mean to the Kenya Tourism Board? And what affect do you see this having on tourism?
Kenya Airways’ direct flight that will begin in October 2018 will increase the growth and strength of Kenya tourism brand to U.S. consumers. KTB, in partnership with Kenya Airways, intends to intensify its engagement with U.S. travel trade and sell Kenya’s diverse tourism, both online and offline. KTB expects an increase in awareness and the attractiveness of Kenya as a holiday destination, with Kenya now much closer to the U.S. Reduced flight times enable tourists to spend more time on their holiday experience.
9. How important is the USA as a source market for Kenya?
The United States of America is Kenya’s top tourist source market in terms of arrivals. American tourists are known to be high spenders and an increase in their arrivals does significantly increase tourism earnings for Kenya.
10. And finally, what message do you have for someone reading this and considering adding Kenya to their 2018 travel goals bucket list?
This is the time to enjoy a holiday in Kenya. We welcome you to discover your own magical moments and experience the joys of Kenya!
Full disclosure: This post was NOT sponsored neither have I received any financial compensation in any way.
Share your thoughts and ideas with me and let’s connect on social media and be sure to check out my one day in Nairobi, Kenya.
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Interested in visiting magical Kenya? Here is my guide to travelling to Kenya as an American citizen
Here is my open letter to governments agencies, tourism boards and organisation, Want more tourist? Engage our African diaspora.
