And
now, in an amazing triumph for both Kiroyera Tours and the local
community, Kiroyera Tours has been awarded The International
Tourism Trophy.
THE
INTERNATIONAL TOURISM TROPHY was created twenty-nine years ago
by EDITORIAL
OFICE, which works in collaboration with
the TRADE
LEADERS CLUB as part of its programme of
promotion of contacts and links between business people in the
sector worldwide. In an event hosted in Madrid, Spain, and taking
place from January 27th until 29th 2004, Kiroyera Tours will
receive its trophy on the 29th
International Award for Tourist, Hotel and Catering Industry.
The
trophy was created to recognize the prestige of companies and
organizations working for tourism and the hotel and catering
trade and as a means of stimulating the healthy imitation of
those working in this sector, which is of vital importance for
the development of their respective countries. This edition
of the award ceremony will be attended by companies and top
restaurateurs and tourism professionals from over 40 countries
around the world.
The
award ceremony traditionally takes place at the same time as
the International
Tourism Trade Fair, FITUR,
which is one of the main meeting points for the tourist industry
worldwide and has the official participation of over a hundred
countries and almost eight thousand direct and indirect exhibitors.
Also the FIRST
WORLD CONFERENCE ON TOURISM COMMUNICATIONS
organized by the World
Tourism Organization (WTO) will take place
in Madrid during this same period, making the awards ceremony
an opportunity for tourism in Kagera and the Lake Victoria region
to gain wide local, national and international publicity.
Upon receiving the International Tourism Trophy, Kiroyera Tours
will be given the opportunity to becoming a member of the Trade
Leaders Club - an Internationally Acclaimed select
group of companies from 120 countries whose managers have received
recognition in their respective fields for their trajectory
and business prestige.
On
arrival from Spain at Dar es Salaam International Airport, plans
have been made to invite representatives from the Ministry of
Tourism, Tanzania Tourism Board, leaders from Kagera region,
the media, and all those supportive of development in the Kagera
region to make sufficient publicity. Groups of traditional dancers
will be present in celebration of this achievement at the Dar
es Salaam, Mwanza and Bukoba Airports.
Since
its inception, Kiroyera Tours has had close knits with the community
particularly in its endeavor to increase tourisms awareness
among the local people; helping them realize the various benefits
tourism brings to their community and how they can harness this
knowledge to create goods and services that cater to tourists
and hence improve their standard of living by empowering themselves.
We are glad the tourism industry has noticed and given its support.
In
2002 Kiroyera Tours organized a great celebration of World Tourism
Day. The day was marked by a number of activities including
public announcements in streets about our tourism resources
and the socio economic benefits of tourism. There was a float
through Bukoba, a public speech by the Mayor of Bukoba at the
town’s bus stand and a mini exhibition at one of the oldest
and renowned hotels in town “The Coffee Tree Inn”. Bukoba community
contributed funds towards the success of the event. This year
World
Tourism Day, September 2003
was celebrated by a televised ‘Round Table’ discussion.
Click
here to read a news article about the discussion
held amongst KAGERA regional authorities.
Other
community incentives involve Customer Care and Selling
Skills Seminars, assisting in initiating the
first Museum in Kagera region, spearheading the initiation
of “Lake Victoria Botanical Garden of Traditional Medicinal
plants,” plus supporting women groups and youth
groups in the creation and marketing of curios and
hand crafts. Most of our company employees including the Managing
Director herself are native to this community, so you can rest
assured we have the regions best interests at heart. Click
here for a comprehensive look at our company profile
and the effort we have made in support of Kagera region.
At
Kiroyera Tours, we approach tourism with a unique purpose. Not
only do we delight in sharing the beauty, splendor and cultural
heritage of Lake Victoria and Kagera region with the rest of
the world, but our purpose goes beyond that. We have decided
not to turn a blind eye to the realities that beleaguer this
continent. We see tourism as an opportunity to poverty alleviation
and most importantly, a source of peace.
It
is for this very reason our managing director, Ms Mary C. Kalikawe,
was bestowed the honor of addressing the IIPT - International
Institute for Peace through Tourism - conference
in Dar es Salaam starting on December 7th. During the session
she is to present a paper on “Kiroyera Pioneering Community
Tourism in Kagera Region” and will also chair a workshop titled
"The Role of Tourism in healing the wounds of poverty and
Conflict."
Kiroyera Tours - Because we Care.
KIROYERA
TOURS AWARDED