By PHILLIP ORWA
The ongoing CHAN tournament has provided the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) with an opportunity to market and expand its sports tourism portfolio.
And the Angola national team, after their elimination from the tournament, opted to discover Kenya by visiting and touring the Nairobi National Park.
The delegation toured the park through a programme curated by the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) under its expanding sports tourism portfolio.
The engagement was part of KTB’s strategic approach to harness the unique synergy between sports and tourism, recognising the growing impact of sports tourism in driving travel and destination awareness across regional and international markets.
KTB CEO June Chepkemei underscored the importance of sports tourism in promoting the country’s appeal. She noted that Kenya’s vision was to tap into every opportunity that places the destination on the global map.
“Sport speaks to passion, pride, and possibility and it brings Kenya’s story to life in a way that is both global and personal.
In bringing teams like Angola’s to discover Kenya we solidify our commitment to harnessing diverse avenues for tourism growth thus sustaining our global competitiveness.
We are confident that these personal encounters will deepen appreciation for our hospitality and inspire more travellers to explore Magical Kenya,” said Chepkemei.
Angola National Football, comprising players, officials and the media team, took time away from the pitch to engage in an immersive tour of the Nairobi National Park over the weekend.
This was after they failed to qualify for the group stages of the ongoing CHAN; they fell 2-0 at the hands of DR Congo on Thursday 14th.
Angola won only one match against Zambia, beating them 2-1 of the four they took part in, drew one with Kenya having settled for a one-all draw, and lost to Morocco 2-0.
Erick Goncalves, the Director of Communications for the Angola Football Federation, said it was his first time visiting the Nairobi National Park and termed the experience as worthwhile.
Goncalves said “It is my first time coming to Nairobi National Park and it was amazing especially with close wildlife encounters. I will share this experience with my family and friends and invite everyone, not just Angolans, but people everywhere to visit this wonderful place.”
Similarly, Eddie Afonso, a defender with the Angola National team, remarked on the hospitality extended during their stay: “Nairobi is a wonderful city with kind people and a unique environment. Experiencing the park here was very special and memorable for all of us.”
The familiarisation trip aligns with recent strategic moves by KTB to intertwine sports with destination branding. Earlier this month, KTB entered into a partnership with the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) aimed at leveraging football’s widespread appeal – particularly through the national team Harambee Stars – to spotlight Kenya as a vibrant and dynamic tourism hub.
The collaboration complements earlier initiatives by the Board that have engaged celebrated athletes and major international events to elevate Kenya’s profile.
Arcilen Oliveira, Director of Football for Angola, expressed enthusiasm about the overall experience: “Although I have visited Kenya before, this was my first time at a national park here. The combination of excellent hospitality and proximity to nature made this trip unforgettable for our team. It’s not every day you get this close to such diverse wildlife.”
Football’s universal appeal continues to unlock new traveller segments. According to UN Tourism, sports tourism presently accounts for an estimated ten per cent of global travel and is among the fastest-growing niches, outpacing traditional holiday traffic.
