Sh37b lost in tourism revenue after virus hit sector, survey shows
By People Team, December 3, 2020Noel Wandera and Roy Lumbe
The tourism industry lost Sh37 billion in direct international tourism visits between January and October, according to data released by Tourism Research Institute yesterday.
It attributed the loss, against a projected revenue of Sh147.5 billion for the review period, or 74 per cent drop, mainly due to the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on the sector.
Tourism ministry had projected that the sector would rake in Sh147.5 billion, but only Sh110.5 billion was realised during the period under review.
Revenue performance was anchored on 470,971 arrivals in the 10 months to October, a figure the institute indicated is a 72 per cent drop from the 1,718,550 international arrivals in October, 2019.
Though arrivals have been increasing, showing a slow recovery post-Covid-19 lockdown, Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala said the country was not out of the woods yet.
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“We are optimistic the situation will gradually improve once the vaccines being developed become readily available to the masses,” he said in a statement.
Leading in arrivals were 60,399 Ugandans, followed by the USA (53,444), Tanzania (43,649), UK (42,341), with India (25,251), completing the top five chart.
Meanwhile, Tourism Chief Administrative Secretary Joseph Boinnet has urged counties to diversify and tap their unique tourism products as a key component for the sector’s development.
Boinnet spoke at the Lake Nakuru National Park, where he launched the Cliff Boat Safaris.
He said new product offerings from Counties will enrich visitors’ experience and create wealth for the Counties.