By Forimmediaterelease.net
Published April 23, 2013

kenya tourism board hosts african oscarsKenya’s profile as a preferred tourist destination has received a boost with the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) winning the bid to host the 2013 edition of the World Travel Awards (WTA) Africa region on October 16, 2013. The WTA nominations will recognise excellence in the travel, tourism and hospitality industry, thus encouraging nominees to uphold constant improvement in products and delivery of service.

Kenya as a host destination comes hot on the heels of KTB’s award as Africa’s leading Tourism Board by WTA in December 2012. In February 2013, KTB was also honoured as ‘Best African Tourism Board’ in the Africa Safari awards held in London, England.

“World Travel Awards (WTA) is coming to Kenya at the right time after a successful and peaceful general election under a new constitution. This has further raised the country’s profile as a safe destination,” says KTB Managing Director, Muriithi Ndegwa. “That WTA has chosen Kenya for the African region ceremony as part of the world grand tour is an endorsement of the country as a preferred tourism destination in the world.”

Graham E. Cooke, President and Founder, WTA, adds, “The selection of our hosts is fundamental to the success of our awards programme, and Kenya as a nation has all the ingredients to rise to the challenge of hosting our Africa Ceremony ‘a warm, vibrant and progressive nation, brimming with enthusiasm and creativity. Tourism is vital to Kenya’s economy, contributing 12 percent to its GDP and sustaining one in ten jobs. The future is bright for Kenya, given the nation’s overwhelming natural resources, its unrivalled wildlife experiences and pristine beaches.”

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Kenya is located in East Africa and boasts white sandy beaches bathed by the Indian Ocean as well as the majestic snow-capped Mount Kenya. It is increasingly emerging as an Adventure destination offering activities from hot air ballooning, to authentic cultural interactions with the local ethnic communities, as well as visits to the world renowned Masai Mara, with breath taking safaris and wildebeest migrations, supported by a miscellany of unique superior class accommodation.