NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 10 – County governments stand to benefit from billions in financial windfall and increased number of local and international tourists if they partner with the East Africa Safari Classic rally.
East Africa Classic Safari chair Joey Ghose says past editions of the rally have raked in approximately Ksh 800 billion in revenue, which may benefit the respective counties in which the annual race is held.
“We have discovered that the East Africa Safari is major door-opener for tourism, especially in Kenya. During the main classic, we had 70 million people watching the race virtually while 40 million others watched it physically. We also did a study of the past two editions, last year and this year, and discovered that the economic benefit of the event … what we call EVA…is around Ksh 800 billion. This means it is a major revenue earner for counties where the rally transverses,” Ghose said.
He revealed that holding the rally in some of these counties has opened up their hinterlands to local and foreign visitors who boost the local economy by spending on various utilities in these areas.
“The economic benefit is, first of all, the heightened business when the rally passes through these counties. Even if there are 40 cars, you are looking at 400 people, which is 400 hotel rooms…four hundred people eating three meals day, drinking beer or whatever beverage. All this increases the economic value to the county,” Ghose said.
He added: “In the long-term however, the rally exposes that county to 100 million people. When someone from Norway, for example, see the classic cars going through Baringo, they will want to visit this place for their holidays.”
Ghose was speaking on Thursday morning at Panafric Hotel, Nairobi during a media briefing on preparations for next month’s East Africa Safari mini classic on December 9-11.
The annual race has thus far attracted 30 entries, including from foreign drivers.
“The mini classic is mainly targeted to the local drivers…three days of action that is affordable for them and is a good practice for the main classic. However, this year, we are very lucky to have foreigners registering to come over and compete, which is also another major boost for tourism and exposure of the country,” Ghose said.
He added: “The reach of this rally goes deep into the countryside…deep into Western Kenya. Areas which are not easily accessible. This rally is a part of Kenya and we are trying to take it back to the people so we can jumpstart it and make it an important part of Kenyan motorsports and the whole of Africa.”
Also known as the Corronation Rally, the East Africa Safari Classic is one of the oldest motorsports competitions in the region, having held its first edition in 1953.
Ran across Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, the event has soldiered on despite being dropped from the World Rally Championship (WRC) calendar in 2003.
