Turkana’s fossil now on Kenya’s tourism map

TheKenyaTourismBoard(KTB),in partnershipwiththeCountyGovernmentofTurkanaandkeyregional stakeholders,hasintensifiedeffortstoenhance theoverallvisitorexperience in Northern Kenya.

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Speakingaheadofthisyear’scelebrationstobeunveiledbyPresident WilliamRuto,theKTBCEOJuneChepkemeipointedouttheimmense tourismpotentialoftheregion,highlightingNorthernKenya’srichcultural heritageasakeyattractionforbothdomesticandinternationalvisitors.

ShenotedthatculturaleventssuchastheTobong’uLoreFestivalplayavital role in opening up lesser-visited regions while bringing Kenya’s diverse culture to life.

“KTBcontinuestorepositionKenyabeyondthetraditionalsafariandbeach experiencetoincludeculture,gastronomy,sportstourism,andotherunique offerings.Cultureisabigpartofwhoweare,andfestivalsprovideapowerful platformtoshowcasethediversityofourdestinations,”saidChepkemei.

SheaddedthatTobong’uLorealsoprovidesanopportunitytohighlight Kenya’shistoricalsignificanceasthehomeofhumanorigins,giventhatthe regionishometofossildiscoveriesofglobalimportance.

“Throughpartnershipswithcountygovernments,KTBensuresthatonce tourismproductsaredevelopedatthe countylevel,weareableto effectivelycommunicateandmarketthemtopotentialvisitors,”sheadded.

Onconnectivity,theCEOnotedsignificantprogressinopeninguppreviously hard-to-reachregions,citingimprovedroadinfrastructureandthelicensing of new airlines.

“Weareencouragedbygovernmentefforts andcommitmenttoimprove accessacrossthecountry.RoadprojectssuchastheLironi–MauSummit highwaywillenhancetravel acrossWesternandRiftValleyregions,whilethe licensingofairlinescontinuestoimproveairconnectivity.Tourismhasa multipliereffectacrosstheeconomyfromsmall-scaletraderstojobcreation forthousandsofKenyans,”shesaid.

TurkanaTours,CEO EkutanOmaronhispartnotedasteadyincreasein touristarrivalsintotheregioninthepastcoupleofyears,underscoring Turkana’sgrowingappeal asadestinationofchoice.

“Weinvitevisitorstoexperiencethemagicthatdefinesthisregion.Turkanais safe,accessiblebyroad,andservedbyregularflights,makingtravel convenientforbothdomesticandinternationaltourists.Ourpartnershipwith KTBhassignificantlyboostedthevisibilityofourattractions,”said Omar.

HeencouragedfamiliesandadventureseekerstovisitTurkanaandimmerse themselvesinitsdiverseexcursions,describingthefestivalasagenuine culturalreunionfeaturingenergetictraditionalmusic,elaborateregalia,and authenticculturalexpression.

Nowinits9thedition,Tobong’uLore,meaning“WelcomeBackHome,”isa vibrantannualculturalfestivalheldinTurkanaCounty.Theeventcelebrates therichheritageoftheTurkanapeopleandneighboringcommunities throughtraditionalmusic,dance,colourfulattire,andculturalexhibitions.The festivalaimstopromotepeace,unity,culturalpreservation,andtourismin the region.

In2024,PresidentWilliamRutowhowillbeleadingthisyear’scelebration declaredTobong’uLoreaglobalculturalevent,positioningittoattract touristsfromacrosstheworldandfurthercementTurkana’splaceonKenya’s tourism map.