[Photo: The Star]
Hotel bookings in the Coastal region is at the peak due to Christmas and New Year holidays.
According to the Kenya Coast Tourism Association, the numbers are driven by 95 percent of the domestic market from Nairobi, Kisumu, Nakuru and Nanyuki.
Hotels in Mombasa and Diani are expected to be fully booked between 23rd of December 2021 and 2nd of January 2022.
Lamu is at 85 percent with key tourist hotels expected to hit 100 percent, while Malindi is expected to be between 60-70 percent.
Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Association of Hotel Owners and Caterers in the Coast Sam Ikwaye says hotels and other stakeholders are looking forward for a better holiday season compared to last year where the industry was dealt a major blow following Covid-19 pandemic, the lockdown and other restrictions.
“Hotels in the region are receiving encouraging bookings and reservations with local holidaymakers accounting for the highest percentage,” said Ikwaye.
“The global health emergency adversely affected the hotel industry with business and holiday travel virtually grinding to a halt forcing many establishments to either close down or reduce their workforce,” he added.
According Ikwaye, the lifting of the nationwide night curfew by President Uhuru Kenyatta was a big relief to the hotels and entertainment sectors, however calling upon all the players in the industry to strictly enforce all health protocols during the festival season.
International arrivals however remain low after the government directed all foreigners arriving into the country to produce Covid-19 certificates following the emergence of the Omicron Covid-19 variant.
A newsmaker, reporter and anchor at Pearl Radio, Ndalilah Sharon is witty and savvy.
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