Coast hotels rebound, record booming business post-polls

The tourism industry is significantly bouncing back after months of low performance due to the political uncertainty in the country in the past two months.

Sector players say they are recording higher bookings as the tourism business improves after the August 9 General Elections which were relatively calm.

Most beach hotels, holiday homes, and tourist attractions in the region have seen an increase in the number of local, regional, and international visitors.

Kenya Coast Tourism Association (KCTA) chairman Victor Shitakha said they are hopeful of a full recovery as they record a boom in domestic tourists. “Hotels are full of conferences in Mombasa with at least 80 per cent in Northern Coast and in Diani South Coast we are recording at least 60 per cent bookings. Hotels have started recording improved business,’ said Shitakha.

The official said international arrivals have been boosted by Chartered flights like CONDOR and NEOS airlines which have started landing in Mombasa.

Shitakha has pleaded with the government to consider an open sky policy so as to improve international arrivals by allowing more chartered flights direct to Mombasa. Some of the hotels enjoying the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) tourism business include Travelers Beach hotels, Sarova Whitesands, Pride Inn Paradise among others.

“I am looking at a very lively end of the year festive season, we anticipate receiving more guests because the country is now calm after the election fears,” said Shitakha.

Big improvement

Travelers Beach Resort General Manager Hilary Silele said the hotel is now enjoying full bookings till December owing to the relative calm that has resumed in the country.

In terms of conferences we are at 100 per cent and in terms of bed occupancy we are at 60 per cent, this is a big improvement because during the election period we were experiencing a wait and see, but business is now picking up,” said Silele.

The manager said the hotel is now targeting to capitalize on good tariffs so that they can recover from the shocks of covid 19.He said during covid 19 many staff lost their jobs. “We will offer a 25 percent rate for the early birds to ensure we don’t hurt our customers and also ensure we get value for the money,” he said.

Silele asked the government to relook at the taxation of the hotel policy owing to what he termed very exorbitant levies. He also called for adoption of open sky policy to help boost business recovery.– Harrison Kivisu

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