-As National and County governments should support organizers of international Sports events to position Kenya as a sports destination;
MAARUFU MOHAMED-GOLFNEWSLINKS;
EABL has a rich history of fostering a deep connection with Kenyans through sports, establishing a strong presence across various disciplines such as athletics, football, golf, and rugby.
This was exclusively disclosed on Thursday evening by the Marketing Manager of EABL (Jonnie Walker) Victoria Mbugua during the ongoing fourth edition of this year’s Magical Kenya Ladies Open Golf Tournament being played at the par 73 PGA rated Vipingo Baobab Ridge Golf Course in Kilifi County.
“Our commitment to supporting Kenyan sports is not just a tradition but a cornerstone of our identity as a company and in golf, through our iconic Johnnie Walker brand, we have been a steadfast supporter, with consistent sponsorship for events such as the Magical Kenya Open to the Johnnie Walker Golf Series and numerous others, “said Mbugua.
She pointed out that their sponsorship for the 2024 Magical Kenya Ladies Open is therefore a natural extension of this legacy, representing their ongoing dedication to elevate the sport of golf in the country and EABL’s belief in the fundamental values of inclusion and diversity has been ingrained in their Corporate DNA since inception.
“These values are not just principles we endorse but they define the very fabric of who we are as a company and consequently, we are steadfast in our support of events and initiatives that contribute to advancing these core values, “noted Mbugua
She further explained that the Magical Kenya Ladies Open stands out as a significant platform in their pursuit of promoting gender inclusion and diversity in sports.
“Beyond being a platform for direct engagement with our consumers, this event serves as a powerful tool to raise awareness about the pivotal role of gender inclusivity in the realm of sports, “noted Mbugua.
Meanwhile the Kilifi County Governor Gideon Mung’aro said that Sports events has been unlocking Tourism Potential in Counties and that National and County governments should continue to sponsor and partner with organizers of international sports events to position Kenya as a sports destination.
The Governor who was speaking the first day of the ongoing fourth Edition of the this year’s Magical Kenya Ladies Open at Vipingo in Kilifi County on Thursday evening said that the County Governments have a pivotal role to play in ensuring that the country fully harnesses the full potential of the events to support local businesses and showcase their tourism potential.
Mung’aro noted that the global media coverage being received from the events helps to spotlight and highlight the regions they are hosted including Kilifi County.
“Kilifi County is thrilled to host the Magical Kenya Ladies open which is an important event that puts a spotlight on us. The county government of Kilifi will continue to collaborate with the national government and the event organizers to ensure that this event continues to be successful. The government of Kenya has to continue sponsoring this event which has a positive impact on our local economy, next year, we hope to do even more in terms of support for this event” said Mung’aro.
The governor welcomed Kenyans to Kilifi stating that the county was the future of tourism in Kenya and urged all across the region to come to Kilifi and watch the finals of this magnificent event.
“Kilifi is the only county where a visitor is able to have breakfast at the beach, lunch on Safari and dinner at the Beach in close proximity. We also have many other attractions for our visitors including water sports and wellness experiences,” said Mung’aro.
Principal Secretary, State Department for Sports Peter Tum who was also at the venue said that the Ministry will continue to invest in the events due to their value in building capacity of Kenyan sportsmen and women as well as positively profiling the country globally.
“The event is watched in over 100 countries globally by millions of viewers. The people of Kilifi are also benefiting economically through selling of their merchandise and artifacts which creates opportunities for them. Importantly, the Kenyan lady golfers participating are competing with professionals from across the world which helps in progressing them in the sport. We want our home-grown golfers to be able to compete in other international events, our goal is to monetize the talent we have in Kenya,” said PS Tum.
Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) Ag. Chief Executive Officer John Chirchir said that as part of Kenya tourism marketing strategy, they are keen to showcase Kenya’s potential for sports tourism market.
“For instance, our beautiful climate, stunning courses, and world-class hospitality make golf tourism a natural fit for us. With the millions of viewers over four days, the golf events provide an invaluable opportunity to beam Kenya’s magical attractions and experiences across the globe and illustrate why Kenya is not just about wildlife safaris but also a world-class golfing and sports tourism destination. We shall continue to partner with counties and the private sector to enable us to tap into this multi-billion-dollar global industry.” Said Chirchir.
Golf tourism is a thriving industry, estimated to be worth over 2 billion USD globally, according to the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) and the average golf tourist has a high spend rate with Kenya aiming to attract more of these visitors.
Kenya currently hosts key international sports events including the Magical Kenya Ladies Open, the Magical Kenya Open which will take place on 22nd-25th February, the WRC safari rally taking place on 28th to 31st March and the Continental Tour, Kip-Keino Classic taking place on the 20th of April 2024.
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