Sopa Lodges – Kenya & Tanzania is keen to tap into the Indian market, having appointed Global Destinations as its representative in January this year. As a first step, they participated in the recently concluded Outbound Travel Market (OTM) in Mumbai.
Sharing her thoughts, Rosemary Muthoni, Director of Sales at Sopa Lodges, said, ‘India is a key source market for us, and we have seen encouraging outbound growth from India to East Africa. Overall, we grew 25% in revenue in 2024 compared to 2023, with a 10% contribution from India. Therefore, despite our local DMCs being present here, it was imperative for us to establish our presence in India. We are positioned in the mid-market segment, with offerings for the luxury segment as well.
“India is new to us, and we are open to learning from this market,” added Rosemary Muthoni, Director of Sales at Sopa Lodges. “Alongside our representative, Global Destinations, we are engaging with the travel trade in Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, and Ahmedabad.”
Talking about the Kenya Tourism Board re-establishing itself in India, Muthoni said, ‘’It is encouraging to see the board back in action and repositioning Kenya as a promising destination for Indian travelers. While direct air access to Kenya and Tanzania remains a key challenge, Ethiopian Airlines is a cost-effective choice, offering ample connectivity across Africa with reasonable flying times from Addis Ababa to various points in Kenya and Tanzania.’’
Sopa Lodges has been closely working with the Kenya Tourism Board, participating in their roadshows across India.