East Africa’s leading tourism fair kicks off

East Africa’s leading tourism exhibition, the Karibu Travel and Tourism Fair (KTTF) kicked off today in Tanzania’s sprawling northern tourist city of Arusha.

The KTTF 2017 is the premier East African regional tourism show and one of the top two “must visit” events of its kind in Africa with a superb, secure, and more convenient venue in a natural setting with an ideally-designed layout – the biggest and only outdoor tourism fair in Africa.

Standing as the most competitive and dedicated travel market that brings the Eastern and Central African region and the world under one roof, providing overseas tour agents with an ideal platform to maximizing their networking opportunities, KTTF is taking off this Friday and will close on Sunday.

Organizers said the event has attracted exhibitors who area regional in-bound tour operators and tourist boards, as well as camping and safari companies.

Others are service providers for wildlife lodges and hotels, local and regional airlines, as well as supporting travel trade services providers, manufacturers, and suppliers of tourist equipment.

KTTF represents a major business platform and contracting opportunity for long-established businesses in Tanzania and across East Africa, reflecting the ongoing growth in the tourism industry and in the global and domestic sphere.

According to organizers, delegates and international buyers will enjoy the benefit of exclusive access on the “Trade Only Day,” which also includes a private, corporate cocktail on the first day of the event.

KTTF has become “the place to meet,” for the African travel industry partners with others from around the world.

Organizers of the fair, the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO), said 2017 would also be directed to tap the rich and strong American and European safari markets, and also the upcoming Chinese and Southeast Asian outlets.

The United States of America is Tanzania’s number one source market for quality and high-spending tourists.

Track record shows that Karibu Fair has been pulling in more participants every year. Last year, the fair attracted an attendance of over 5,000 trade visitors with 250 exhibitors.

Traditional exhibitors are from the United Kingdom, South Africa, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. A number of travel and tourism agents come from Germany, Australia, Holland, Canada, South Africa, Britain, and the United States.

The fair is also aimed at creating opportunities for international visitors and overseas tour agents to meet and network with members of the East African tourism industry; bring new destinations, facilities, and products to the attention of overseas tour agents; and facilitate opportunities for overseas tour agents to visit the national parks and properties.

For the past years, Karibu Fair has generated direct spending in the local economy, created direct and indirect employment by assisting development of small and medium enterprises, built alliances with neighboring East African member countries, and brought together key tourism stakeholders through combined efforts to promote regional tourism.