The Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) and Standard Chartered Bank Kenya have today entered a partnership aimed at driving local and international tourism in Kenya through long distance running and sport. The collaboration will see the two organisations promote Kenya as a marathon destination for local and international runners.
Standard Chartered Bank and the Kenya Tourism Board will work closely to drive awareness and increase participation in this year’s marathon set to take place on 30th October. Since its first edition in 2003, the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon has grown tremendously earning recognition from World Athletics and the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS).
The marathon has attracted over 250,000 participants across its 18 editions to become the largest single-day sporting event in Kenya. Last year, the marathon successfully launched the first hybrid marathon with some runners taking part physically and others virtually. It attracted over 5,800 virtual participants from across 61 countries and 2,500 elite runners participating in the physical marathon
This year’s route for the physical marathon on the Southern bypass will allow runners to experience a great view of the Nairobi National Park. KTB CEO, Dr Betty Radier says that the partnership is an opportunity to rally runners from across the world, including Kenya, to take part in the renowned regional sporting event as well as showcase Kenya’s tourism opportunities to domestic and international markets.
“We are delighted to be part of the 2022 Standard Chartered Marathon,” she said. “As we gear up for one of the biggest city marathons in the region, we are confident that the partnership will help us to create more awareness about Kenya’s rich and diverse culture. Further, we also want to highlight Kenya as the home of champions, especially after the recent wins by our destination ambassador Eliud Kipchoge in Berlin, Amos Kipruto in the London Marathon and Benson Kipruto and Ruth Chepng’etich in Chicago confirming Kenya’s positioning to now play host to a great city marathon in Nairobi” Said Dr Radier
Standard Chartered Marathon Chairman Peter Gitau said ” One of our key objectives is to elevate the overall experience of the marathon and to use the event as a platform to showcase and appreciate our culture and heritage as a country. Partnerships are critical in the realisation of this mission. We are delighted to partner with KTB so that together we can promote sports tourism as well as our culture and hospitality.”
Funds raised through the marathon go towards Futuremakers by Standard Chartered. This initiative supports disadvantaged young people—especially girls and young people with disabilities—to gain new skills and expertise to improve their chances of getting a job or starting their own business
The marathon provides KTB with a platform to sell the destination as the undisputed home of champions more so in the field of long-distance running. This is after having produced global sporting icons such as Magical Kenya Destination Ambassador Eliud Kipchoge. It will also help create an experience for runners through various planned activations by KTB.
“We are banking on the 2022 Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon to further enhance Kenya’s reputation as a top tourist destination. This event brings together people from the region and the goal is to ensure that people from across the world can come and see our passion for running.” Added Dr Radier.
The partnership comes at a time when there has been an uptick in the number of tourists visiting Kenya following concerted marketing efforts by KTB and other partners both public and private. Data from the Tourism Research Institute (TRI) shows that sector earnings more than doubled to Sh167.1 billion between January-August 2022 compared to Sh83.2 billion recorded in a similar period last year. Total arrivals increased by 91.3 percent to 924,812 compared to 483,246 in the same period last year.
