East Africa’s First International E-Tourism Conference to be held in Nairobi in October
Published: 07 Oct 2008
Nairobi. The first major international E tourism conference for East Africa, will take place in Nairobi on the 13 and 14th of October this year. The two-day, E Tourism East Africa conference, which is being sponsored by Safaricom, Microsoft Visa International and the Kenya ICT Board, will bring some of the world’s leading experts on online tourism to the region for the first time. Delegates from Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Ethiopia, as well as across Kenya are expected to attend.
The conference will feature more than 27 presentations from international and local companies and it will bring together global online and digital experts, from companies such as Expedia, Microsoft, Google, Digital Visitor, Trip Advisor, Eviivo, New Mind and WAYN (Where Are You Now?) the world’s largest social network for travelers. The international experts will address conference delegates about the new technologies available, as well as highlighting marketing and e-commerce solutions, the best use of social networking, the implications of blogging and the importance of user generated content and online video for the travel trade.
E Tourism Africa is a pan African initiative to assist Africa’s tourism sector to better understand the internet and the range of online marketing opportunities now available.
The managing director of E Tourism Africa, Mr Damian Cook, explains the reasons for the conferences.
“It is vital that the tourism sector in Africa becomes aware of the vast online opportunities for business. Over 70% of young professionals rely on the internet to research and book their holidays. Up till now there has been very little information available to the travel trade in Africa on how they can maximize their online presence”; said Mr Cook.
Africa’s first international e-tourism conference – E Tourism Southern Africa was held in early September in Johannesburg this year. More than 250 delegates attended, including delegates from South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland and Lesotho. Additional E Tourism Africa conferences are planned for Cairo and Ghana in early 2009, culminating with a pan African event in Johannesburg in mid 2009.
The E Tourism East Africa conference will be held in Nairobi at the Fox Cinema at Sarit Centre on the 13-14th October, followed by three days of special training seminars for the tourism sector on the 15-17th October at the KWS Training Centre in Langata, Nairobi.
Conference Registration for East Africa is open now – www.e-tourismafrica.com
ENDS
For additional information visit www.e-tourismafrica.com
Or contact Lavinniah Muthoni at Tell-Em Public Relations - Nairobi
Email: lavinniah.muthoni@tell-em-pr.com
Office: +254 20 374 6508
Notes to Editor
E Tourism Africa
E Tourism Africa is a pan African initiative to assist Africa’s tourism sector to better understand the internet and the range of online marketing opportunities now available. The company is organizing conferences and seminars across Africa and the first event was held in Johannesburg with a two day conference on the 1-2 September, followed by a three day training seminar. Additional conferences are planned for North and West Africa, with a pan African conference taking place in Johannesburg in mid 2009.
Online Travel Information
There are an estimated 1.2 billion internet users globally. There has been substantial growth in all world regions, particularly in Asia and the Pacific, which, over seven years, has moved from third position (with about 100 million users), to top position with over 400 million. Current forecasts suggest 1.5 billion people with Internet access in 2011.
In general, travellers are increasingly computer literate and tech aware, with two thirds of the over 100 million travelers who are online (using the Internet to make travel plans). Among online frequent travellers, over 70 percent use the Internet for travel planning. A recent poll of young UK travellers showed an 89% preference for online booking.
New media on the web has major ramifications for travel. This is reflective of the new Web 2.0 environment, fuelled by content and driven by Social Networking. About 44% of US consumers will use social networking at least once a month in 2008. Some 70% of Internet content is forecast to be created by individuals as opposed to publishers and brands within three years.
The nearly tenfold increase in social network advertising spending in the US reflects optimism in the ability of companies like YouTube, MySpace and Facebook. By 2011, research estimates there will be 95 million Web users creating content online, up from 64 million in 2006. (ETC New Media Review, Emarketer, Eye for Travel) www.eyefortravel.com
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