Officials from Kenya’s Nairobi International Trade Fair have attributed the huge gate collection of an estimated KSh100 million ($1.2 million) to an e-ticketing system.
According to the Batram Muthoka, the Chief Executive of Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK), the trade fair’s major organiser, the weeklong event that ended Sunday attracted more than 500,000 visitors, including investors and exhibitors from the neighbouring East and Central African states.
ASK officials said previous events witnessed huge revenue loss due to ticket counterfeiting. “We used to have some people from all directions printing their own tickets and therefore we used to lose a lot of revenue,” Muthoka said.
ASK financial experts added that the sum collected would be well below the previously estimated revenue generated from the Trade Fair through ticketing because of counterfeiting.
This loss prompted ASK to go digital this year. Muthoka said that quite a number of people had purchased their tickets online and the results were positive.
“Once the ticket has been scanned and validated, it cannot be used again to go into the grounds and counterfeit tickets can also be identified by the system,” Muthoka added.
Other advantages of the e-ticketing system included minimising the time spent purchasing tickets manually at the entrance known to crowd the gates.
Relevant ASK authorities also projected a revenue of KSh120 million, which they say would be dedicated to organising bigger and better trade fairs over the coming years.
The Nairobi International Trade Fair is part of an annual series of events under the Kenyan Ministries of Agriculture and Livestock Development.
Started in the early 1900s, it not only showcases developments in the agricultural sector but also acts as a business platform for agricultural and livestock products from Kenyan farmers and corporate entities.
