We are excited to share with you some of our major achievements and developments from the past year.
LTA Registered and Ready for Growth
We are pleased to announce that we are now a registered community-based organization (CBO) in Kenya! This registration gives us added legitimacy and allows us to enter into legally binding partnerships with like-minded organizations. We are excited to continue growing and expanding our operations as a registered association.
Networking and Opportunities at the Magical Kenya Travel Expo
This year, we had the opportunity to participate in the 2022 edition of the Magical Kenya Travel Expo, held at the Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi. The expo attracted over 200 exhibitors and 150 global buyers from key source markets, and provided a great networking platform for our association. We were able to connect with other tourism industry professionals and develop strong partnerships, as well as grow our membership.
Panel discussion on Innovation and digitization – Building the Future of Tourism
Several of our members, including El Karama, Olepangi Farm, Kicheche Camps, Sweetwaters Serena, and Ol Pejeta, represented the Laikipia tourism sector at the expo.
In addition to connecting exhibitors and buyers, attendees were able to participate in panel discussions on various topics including airline and access, sustainable and inclusive tourism, innovation and digitization, and the future of tourism and its resilience.
Connecting Members with Skilled Labor
One of the benefits the LTA offers to its members is helping them access a skilled labor pool. We serve as an information clearinghouse on training, certification opportunities, and internships, and we also help link our members with job seekers who are looking for attachments or employment in the tourism industry.
Recently, we were able to help link Cynthia Mali, a student pursuing sustainable tourism and hospitality management at the Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, with an opportunity for an industrial attachment at the Warwick Hotel in Nanyuki Town. Cynthia was able to gain valuable experience and skills during her three-month attachment, and she was grateful for the opportunity provided by the LTA.
LTA Connects with Industry Professionals and New Members at Exhibitions
In 2022, we participated in two exhibitions where we were able to showcase the association and our members. The first exhibition was the Dreams Youth Expo, held at the Cedar Mall rooftop. We had a stand at the expo and we were able to sensitize the public on the LTA and its role, as well as sell the Laikipia coffee table book. As a result of this exposure opportunity, we gained new membership subscriptions and will partner with various visitors and exhibitors over the remainder of the year.
Additionally, we met people interested in working in the tourism sector in Laikipia, and the LTA will work to help place qualified and competent individuals in member facilities.
BATUK Guest Duncan Mann visits the LTA stand during the Dreams Youth Expo, second edition
The second exhibition was the Mt Kenya Hotel Suppliers Expo, held at the Warwick Hotel in Nanyuki. This expo brought together exhibitors from across the countries who supply tourism facilities with a range of products. We had a stand at the expo and we were able to link suppliers with LTA members.
We look forward to participating in more exhibitions in 2023.
LTA Members’ Staff Raise Their Wine IQ with Training from Tourism Fund
Earlier this year, the Tourism Fund provided training on basic wine knowledge to staff from some of the LTA members. The Tourism Fund, which was established in 2012 to mobilize resources to finance the development of the tourism industry in Kenya, recognized a gap in the service of wine in the Laikipia landscape and wanted to help improve the knowledge of LTA member staff in this area. The training included information on the appropriate glassware to use for different types of wine, the key differences between white and red wine, and the steps for tasting wine. The training was interactive and the participants are expected to have gained a lot from the session.
This marked the first of many stakeholder engagements that we hope to have with the Tourism Fund and other partners.
Although we have made significant progress in promoting and supporting tourism in Laikipia, we recognize that we have not yet reached our full potential. In 2023, we are committed to continuing to grow and expand our operations and provide even more benefits to our members. Through our efforts, the LTA aims to continue to play a key role in the development and success of the tourism industry in Laikipia.
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