Anti-Gov’t Protests hit Both Domestic and Foreign Tourism
Kenya Tourism Board [KTB] acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) John Chirchir speaking during a forum for tourism stakeholders drawn from the coast region held at Tamarind Mombasa - Dhow and Restaurant in Nyali constituency, Mombasa country. He spoke on a six-month domestic tourism campaign dubbed, “You Deserve a Holiday".
The antigovernment protests in parts of the country had affected not only domestic but also international tourism.
Diani Reef beach hotel Managing Director Bobby Kamani pointed out that in the last month the protests had a negative impact on domestic tourism.
He added that the protests had also an effect on international tourism as travel advisories were given to international travelers not to come to Kenya.
“We remain optimistic and hopeful things will remain calm as they are currently after the protests were halted,” he added.
Kamani said after Azimio leader Raila Odinga suspended the demonstrations people have started travelling again across the entire the country.
He was addressing the media during the monthly beach cleaning exercise held at Diani Reef in south coast, Kwale county.
The Diani Reef Managing Director said there is an urgent need for the country to move on and get into a forward gear.
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Kamani said its important for the industry to get back to normalcy.
He disclosed that another factor which contributed to low bed occupancy at hotels in the hospitality industry is reopening of schools late and not early January.
“The schools are not breaking for Easter holiday celebrations unlike previously,” he added.
The hotel management told the media this made the families not to travel as much as they would love to like in previous years.
Kamani revealed that during this year’s Easter season bed occupancy at hotels was relatively good at 80 percent.
He added that the previous years were better compared to this years despite the hospitality industry currently enjoying 80 percent bed occupancy.
“The hospitality industry could be doing better and would be enjoying full capacity bed occupancy but other factors have come to play to affect the sector,” he said.
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