 |
 |
 |
| |
 |
|
James
Weru - CEO – African Pro-poor Tourism Development
Centre |
1) Please
tell something about your organization and your
key achievements & benefits you provide.
African Pro-poor Tourism Development Centre (APTDC)
is a duly registered charitable organization under
Certificate Number OP.218/051/2003/0369/3010 pursuant
to and in accordance with section 10 of the Non-Governmental
Organizations Coordination Act of Kenya. The organization
is the African Chapter of African Pro-poor Tourism
(USA) and it seeks to promote the utilization
of tourism as a strategic tool to alleviate poverty.
The centre was the first of its kind in the East
African Travel & Tourism Industry and until
it was founded, tourism was not being used as
strategic tools towards addressing the various
social problems such as unemployment, poverty
and gender inequality. We at APTDC are guided
by this slogan "Give the local community
a fish and you feed the for today, teach the to
fish and you feed them for ever".
The organization has engaged in a number of successful
projects which has facilitated local economic
development, namely; facilitating hotel investments
through fostering partnerships between local communities
and hospitality industry investors, enhancing
employment through tourism by initiating the pioneer
tourism career development centre in Kenya, promoting
fair trade in African baskets and marketing of
philanthropic safaris. |
|
2) What are the
top 3 most valuable benefits visitors can expect if
they plan a visit to the destination and organization
you represent?
a) Enjoyment of African tourist “hot spots” and heritage
b) A chance to touch the hearts of locals visited through
local economic development
c) A chance to travel responsibly and engage in carbon
free travel, you get a certificate to proof this
3) Most of our readers are vegetarian. They
don’t eat meat, fish or eggs. Do you have facilities
for vegetarian food near the popular tourist destinations?
All the hotels that we use have a variety of vegetarian
meal plans that enable vegetarians to enjoy their stay
in the destinations visited.
4) Which are the websites in English that gives
information about destination and various tourist attractions?
www.propoortourism-kenya.org
www.propoortourism-usa.org
5) Do you find that Asian Indians visit often
visit the destination that you represent?
Most of the tourists who visit Kenya are mostly from
traditional markets (Europe and America) but recently
Asia has emerged as a promising source market and a
substantial amount of visitors are being received from
Asia now.
6) Do you provide an online facility or blogging
platform for visitors to leave their experience?
Not at the moment but they can send their experience
which we upload in our site as testimonials.
7) What opportunities do you provide to experienced
travel & hotel entrepreneurs to invest? Is there
any website or Govt. agency responsible for channeling
investments?
As a development agent in the travel and tourism industry
we belief that local and international investments are
critical. So that effect we provide investment profiles
to potentials investors, facilitate the development
of public-private partnerships, and undertake feasibility
studies for companies interested with investing in the
tourism industry. This is done in collaboration and
the ministry of tourism, Kenya investments Authority
and Kenya tourism Development Corporation.
8) Do you have Asian Indian association, temple
or population nearby?
Yes, there are a substantial number of Indian temples
and associations in Nairobi.
9) What advertising & marketing method you
use to reach out to potential tourists and investors?
Which medium is the most effective medium?
We use a number of marketing medium to market of services,
namely; internet, brochures, word of mouth, magazines
and journals. The most effective means of marketing
is word of mouth were clients are referred to us.
10) Has the current global economic downturn
impacted the flow of tourists? How are you dealing with
this situation?
The economic down turn has really affected the tourists
arrivals but we are making ends meets by engaging in
reducing operations costs and marketing to domestic
tourists.
11) What does most visitors and guests enjoy
the most when they visit your destination?
Kenya is blessed with the new seventh wonder of this
world “Wildebeest Migration”, this is spiced with tourists
touching the hearts of locals by engaging in philanthropic
endeavors during their safari.
12) What are the most popular festivals or events
for general tourists?
Wildebeest Migration in Maasai Mara and Waswahili Cultural
even in Lamu (along the Kenya coastline)
13) Which are the popular trade-shows, conferences
and events for travel professionals?
Easter holiday exhibition (March), Getaway exhibition
(November), adhoc tourism conferences.
14) Which are the websites for associations
representing hotels, tour operations and travel agents?
www.kato.org,
www.ecotourismkenya.org
15) What is the best way an American visitor
can plan a trip to your destination?
The best way is to select a safari from our webpage www.propoortourism-usa.org,
or request for a tailor made safari from our USA office,
we are dedicated to providing carbon free safaris by
offsetting an equivalent of carbon produced by visitors
in course of their traveling. Our safaris are non profit
and the mar up added on the safari (15%) can be treated
as a tax deductible grant for American Travellers. |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
