Tourism players upbeat after year-end festivities
By Harrison.Kivisu, January 4, 2024Stakeholders in the tourism sector are optimistic that the sector will keep the momentum even after the end-of-year holiday festivities.
Buoyed by the Visa free directive by the government, sector players anticipate that this will influence the increase of tourist arrivals in the country. Major Coast hotels registered 100 per cent bookings for Christmas and New Year celebrations as local and international visitors flocked to the tourist destination for the festivities.
The stakeholders are therefore upbeat that the situation will last until mid-April this year. Hotels in the coastal region have over 30,000 beds which accommodate tourists and can employ over 10,000 people at a time.
Coastal region which has over 250 hotels and resorts that target both local and international tourists in the country, contributes up to 60 per cent to the tourism sector. The sector got a boost after six cruise ships docked at the Mombasa port this festive season as the coastal city continues to register increased international arrivals. Sector players are hoping for better policies to intensify sector growth.
Cruise liner destination
The latest cruise ship to call at the Mombasa port was MV Bollete, carrying 859 tourists on Christmas day. This comes as Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) intensifies its campaign to market Kenya as a top cruise liner destination.
John Chirchir, KTB chief executive said the board has intensified marketing strategies to attract more ships next year.
“There is a lot of underground marketing going on, in the season to come we are proud to announce that 13 cruise ships will come to Kenya. By April this year we expect about three more ships to dock at the Port of Mombasa,” he added.
Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) General Manager Cargo Operations Sudi Mwasinago noted that the port plays a pivotal role in reviving the cruise ship business in Kenya. He said KPA is at the centre of the business, and the port plays an interface role between land and sea for the vessels.
“Our role is to support and facilitate this type of business because it is good for the port and we are gaining through the charges. The county, the country, and the economy are gaining momentum,” said Mwasinago.
Mombasa County Trade, Tourism, and Culture Executive Mohammed Osman hailed the arrival of the vessel as a sign of confidence that Mombasa remains the preferred tourist destination for both local and international tourists.
“The Mombasa County Government will continue working closely with KPA and other stakeholders in the tourism industry to ensure that we revamp our city as the number one leading tourist destination in Kenya,” he said. Hotel owners who spoke to the Business Hub said tourists’ confidence in Kenya has increased following the introduction of the charter flight incentives by the government.
They said the festive season which came after a long political season provided a short lifeline for the hotels to make money, signalling a promising domestic tourist improvement.
“We performed averagely this year and we are optimistic that the growth will be sustained if relative peace experienced during the holiday is maintained. We are also urging relevant Authorities mandated with marketing the tourism destination to do so effectively to attract and move international visitors,” said an official who requested anonymity.
He credited the rise in numbers to improved security this month and the extended school holidays that have enabled families to head for the coast.
Fireworks lit the sky at various beaches and entertainment joints at the Coast, where hundreds had gathered to celebrate the ushering in of the New Year 2024 in style. Mombasa Kilifi and Kwale counties had organized the end year crossover events where Thousands of revelers in the entire coastal region flocked