Uncertainty associated with Kenya’s general election on August 8 has slowed tourism recovery at the Kenya coast.
Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC) Coast Branch Executive Officer, Sam Ikwaye, said international tourist arrivals in the region were low despite the high season beginning in mid-July.
He attributed the low international tourist numbers at the coast to uncertainty over the August polls, although the political campaigns, which began last month, had been peaceful.
Ikwaye pointed out that the number of international tourists in the resort towns of Malindi and Watamu in Kilifi County was at its lowest ebb, with less than 10% occupancies.
He said some hotel owners had resolved to withhold reopening of their establishments until after the polls.
“Normally, hotels in Malindi and Watamu that close during the low season, reopen by mid-July, but this time around, some owners have decided to resume operations after the elections.”
In Mombasa, Ikwaye said hotels had occupancies of about 50% due to conferencing and domestic tourists ferried to the country’s tourism hub by the new Madaraka Express trains. He said Diani had only 30% occupancy due to the low number of international visitors.
However, he was optimistic that the industry could rebound before December if the August 8 polls were conducted peacefully.
“Tourism has been slowed by the perception that next month’s elections might be chaotic. But if all goes well, we expect the industry to boom in the last quarter of 2017,” he added.
Tourism on Lamu archipelago has also plunged due to Somali terrorist group, Al-Shabaab attacks and the curfew that was recently imposed by the Kenyan government.
According to Lamu County Tourism Director, Ali Mohamed, the Al-Shabaab attacks that occurred since June, had triggered cancellations of bookings, dealing a blow to the industry.
Despite low occupancies in the coastal regions, lodges and camps in the Maasai Mara National Park have reported a busy season due to the annual wildebeest migration.
