Tourism sector players from the Coastal region are now appealing to the government to consider giving tax exemption to hotels and holiday homes to enable them to stay afloat as they continue to bear the brunt of pandemic.

The sector is recording depressed revenues after cancellation of tourism conferences and charter flights. 

Key stakeholders are now saying that a tax waiver and a creation of tourism sustainability fund would support the sector during this hard economic times.

“There is a supply disruption because we are now unable to meet our obligations such as paying for utility services,” said Waswa.

The number of visitors touring the coast, Kenya’s main beach and  Safari tourist hub, has sharply declined as the multi-million-shilling tourism industry market dips owing to the deadly Covid-19 pandemic.

The situation has been worsened by cancellation of hotel bookings, sand beaches being declared out of bound to holiday makers and conferences cancelled as the government tightens the nose on the spread of the corona virus.

Many local tourists mainly from upcountry have opted to stay away, while international guests have been barred from travelling into the country after the government banned inbound travels of guests from countries hit by Covid-19.