Kenya to Launch Drive to Attract Bird Tourism.
The Tourism Trust Fund of Kenya has launched a new bird tourism product that it will fund to the total value of £160,000.
While presenting the cheque to Nature Kenya, TTF’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Dan Kagagi says that the overall goal of the project is to enhance Kenya’s potential as a bird tourism destination through targeted marketing and advanced training.
While presenting the cheque to Nature Kenya, TTF’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Dan Kagagi says that the overall goal of the project is to enhance Kenya’s potential as a bird tourism destination through targeted marketing and advanced training.
‘This kind of niche marketing of an under-exploited resource, promoting little known areas to a large and high value market of specialized tourists, perfectly defines our mission as TTF’ said Dr Kagagi.
Three Key Bird Areas
The Nature Kenya project targets three well-known Important Bird Areas (IBAs), which includes Dunga papyrus wetlands; Kinangop Plateau Grasslands; and Kakamega
Forest;
‘All of these areas are ripe for tourism development, and the coming of appropriate, responsible tourism development in these areas means that revenue reaches a much wider and inclusive set of communities.’ added Dr Kagagi.
‘According to Birdlife International, there are an estimated 7 million birdwatchers engaging in birdwatching trips per annum, spending over US$ 7 billion in the countries they visit’’, says Nature Kenya’s Executive Director, Mr. Paul Matiku
Mr Matiku says that statistics show that only around 250 specialized bird watchers per year visit Kenya. However, with this new project the number is expected to increase more than three times.
Three Key Bird Areas
The Nature Kenya project targets three well-known Important Bird Areas (IBAs), which includes Dunga papyrus wetlands; Kinangop Plateau Grasslands; and Kakamega
Forest;
‘All of these areas are ripe for tourism development, and the coming of appropriate, responsible tourism development in these areas means that revenue reaches a much wider and inclusive set of communities.’ added Dr Kagagi.
‘According to Birdlife International, there are an estimated 7 million birdwatchers engaging in birdwatching trips per annum, spending over US$ 7 billion in the countries they visit’’, says Nature Kenya’s Executive Director, Mr. Paul Matiku
Mr Matiku says that statistics show that only around 250 specialized bird watchers per year visit Kenya. However, with this new project the number is expected to increase more than three times.
Bird Tourism
‘We want to develop a bird tourism product targeted at the certified 60 Important Bird
Areas in existence in Kenya today’ he adds. As Dr. Kagagi explained, such specialized tourism allows can take pressure away from the usual well trafficked tourist circuits- ‘Bird watchers are driven to see the highest number of birds of any region or country they are visiting. This means they are more likely to visit places outside the usual tourist circuits at periods of time that are not necessarily dictated by seasonality, but rather by bird migration patterns and breeding seasons’
Birds of Kenya – World Record
There are about 1100 species of birds in Kenya including some 24 threatened or rare species of which 12 of the species are considered globally threatened. Kenya holds the world record for the number of species seen in a 24 hour period, with 342 different species being seen at Lake Baringo.
‘We want to develop a bird tourism product targeted at the certified 60 Important Bird
Areas in existence in Kenya today’ he adds. As Dr. Kagagi explained, such specialized tourism allows can take pressure away from the usual well trafficked tourist circuits- ‘Bird watchers are driven to see the highest number of birds of any region or country they are visiting. This means they are more likely to visit places outside the usual tourist circuits at periods of time that are not necessarily dictated by seasonality, but rather by bird migration patterns and breeding seasons’
Birds of Kenya – World Record
There are about 1100 species of birds in Kenya including some 24 threatened or rare species of which 12 of the species are considered globally threatened. Kenya holds the world record for the number of species seen in a 24 hour period, with 342 different species being seen at Lake Baringo.
The Tourism Trust Fund, (TTF) was established in 2002 through an agreement by the European Union and the Government of Kenya. The EU has committed Euro 22 million (Ksh 2.2 billion) to the fund to be used to in the development of Kenya’s tourism up to
2007.
The major role of the TTF is to fund the Kenya Tourist Board’s international marketing programme and to fund new tourism projects that will offer visitors a new experience in Kenya, while at the same time conserving the environment. TTF has been very successful in both areas. To date it has funded 33 projects at a value of Ksh 294 million shillings and contributed a total of Ksh 645 million to KTB for its international marketing programmes.
TTF is a funding body and its key objective is to help eradicate poverty through tourism. The TTF allocates grants to proposals that meet the required criteria. Under the TDSDP programme TTF funds small scale enterprises develop and sustain tourism projects that offer a new experience away from the traditional beach and safari products. Projects that maintain and preserve the environment, traditional culture and work closely with local communities are given preference.
www.ttfkenya.org
2007.
The major role of the TTF is to fund the Kenya Tourist Board’s international marketing programme and to fund new tourism projects that will offer visitors a new experience in Kenya, while at the same time conserving the environment. TTF has been very successful in both areas. To date it has funded 33 projects at a value of Ksh 294 million shillings and contributed a total of Ksh 645 million to KTB for its international marketing programmes.
TTF is a funding body and its key objective is to help eradicate poverty through tourism. The TTF allocates grants to proposals that meet the required criteria. Under the TDSDP programme TTF funds small scale enterprises develop and sustain tourism projects that offer a new experience away from the traditional beach and safari products. Projects that maintain and preserve the environment, traditional culture and work closely with local communities are given preference.
www.ttfkenya.org
