Tourists take photographs of a lion at the Maasai Mara Game Reserve. FILE PHOTO | NMG
What you need to know:
Travel advisories issued in May by the US, the UK, France and Australian government impacted negatively on tourist arrivals especially from the US and UK known for going on safaris.
Maasai Mara national reserve was voted Africa’s leading national park as Kenyan hotels scored highly at the regional World Travel Awards (WTA) 2014 amid gloom within the country’s tourism sector.
This year’s ceremony being held in Abuja, Nigeria, over the weekend saw the country register victories in ten victories.
The Mara emerged tops for the second year running in a category that also featured South Africa’s Kruger National Park and the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, Rwanda’s Nyungwe National Park and Kidepo Valley National Park in Uganda.
The World Travel Awards were established in 1993 and recognise the very best travel organisations in the world through a global vote by travel professionals from 171 countries.
Travel advisories issued in May by the US, the UK, France and Australian government impacted negatively on tourist arrivals especially from the US and UK known for going on safaris. The onset of the wildebeest migration has seen tourists trickle into the reserve to witnesses the animals’ crossover the Mara River to Tanzania’s Serengeti.
READ: Tourists defy advisories for wildebeest migration The recognition comes at a time when the sector has seen a slump in revenue due to challenges of insecurity and in urgent need of heavy investments to put it on the recovery path.
Diani beach was voted as Africa’s leading beach destination while Leopard’s Beach Resort and Spa emerged as the leading spa resort. Sarova Whitesands beach resort and spa was voted as the region’s leading eco-hotel while its sister establishment Sarova Shaba Game Lodge voted as the most ecofriendly among the region’s lodges.
Finch Hattons safari camp located in Tsavo West emerged as the leading safari lodge in Africa while Gamewatchers Safaris and Porini camps was chosen as the leading tented safari camp.
The Kenya Tourism Board (KTB), which is tasked with marketing Kenya and find new tourist markets, was crowned Africa’s leading tourist board for the third year running. Twiga tours was also recognized for its role in promoting responsible tourism within its operations.
National carrier Kenya Airways was also voted as the airline with the best business class service for the second year in a row. The Hilton was declared Africa’s leading hotel brand.
WTA also recognised the Kenyatta family owned Heritage Hotels as the leading safari camp brand in the country with the presidential suite at Villa Rosa Kempinski emerging as the leading hotel suite nationally.
WTA has celebrated excellence across all sectors of the global tourism industry annually since 1993 with regional awards for Europe, Central America, Indian Ocean, Middle East, South America and Africa.
