The Alliance Group of Hotels is now seeking to venture into sports tourism to grow its market share.
The group has devoted a 72-acre plot at its Naromoru River Lodge in Nanyuki to set up a biking and racing track for long distance runners , the first of its kind in East Africa.
According to the Naromoru River Lodge’s general manger Edward Wangeci, the investment aims at diversifying the tourism menu that has traditionally been hinged on game drives and beaches.
“The country’s tourism has for a long time been positioned as a game park and Coast adventure, but there is more to offer and that is what we are trying to tap,” said Mr Wangeci.
He added: “The Mt Kenya region can attract leisure tourism and we believe by doing a biking course we will be able to create a new attraction by attracting sports enthusiasts.”
The hotel chain has contracted international sportsmen David Kinja (cyclist) and Douglas Wakiihuri (former marathoner) to help put in place the finer details of the cycling and the running tracks.
“We have tapped into the experience and the knowledge of the professionals to work with our contractors to ensure that we build a facility that is able to attract local and international sportsmen looking for high altitude training.”
The facility will host a five-day race dubbed “Mt Kenya Epic” that will cover 600 kilometres and see cyclists embark on a gruelling journey around Mt Kenya, through six counties.
“We have already received positive response from about 300 participants and several corporate sponsors who are willing to participate. It’s very promising and we are going to take the marketing a notch higher to bring more people into the fold,” Mr Wangeci said.
He added: “The Mt Kenya region is a high altitude area and offers a perfect training ground for athletes. We are seeking a package that allows them to have their training while enjoy the leisure of the flora.
Mr Kinja said that the concept is modelled to mirror the Tour de France which attracts thousands of cyclists.
Courtesy on Nation Media