The short school holiday last week offered reprieve to hoteliers with most outlets at the coast recording increased occupancy.
This comes as a huge relief to the sector which missed out on the Easter holidays in April due to lockdowns imposed in Nairobi, Kiambu, Machakos, Nakuru and Kajiado counties
“Most hotels at the Coast have reported fairly good numbers recording 50-70 per cent occupancy last week with the 10 day school holiday and this brings optimism to the sector,” said Sam Ikwaye, Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers Coast branch executive.
Ikwaye said despite the numbers not being that high, they indicate a possibility to recovery.
“Whatever numbers we see with the current Covid-19 situation give us confidence as an industry as we have been through some tough times,” he said.
Ikwaye however expressed concern over the increasing Covid-19 infections and high political temperatures.
“We don't need another lockdown, Kenyans should work together to manage the spread of this deadly disease to ensure we don't go back to where we were,” he said.
According to Joan Ndungu, Residences Manager at the Leopard Beach Resort & Spa in Diani, the short school break boosted their occupancy.
“We recorded an increase in bookings last week and we look forward to a fruitful high season,” said Ndungu.
Pride Inn Beach Resort saids it recorded fairly good numbers last weekend and high bookings for this week, but could not quantify their occupancy.
Baobab Beach Resort which operates three properties in Diani- The Baobab, The Maridadi and KoleKole also reported improved business as the high season kicked in.
Silvester Mbandi , general manager at the resort said the school holiday from July 17 to 25 brought in quite an influx of domestic market especially families.
“Most resorts in Diani and Mombasa were full last week to the weekend, this makes as hopeful for this season,” Mbandi told the Star.
He however noted that with the international markets opening slowly they will still not get to the pre Covid figures.
He estimated and average occupancy rate of 40-50 per cent for the whole season.
Last weekend, Eurowings Discover, a new airline launched a direct route from Germany to Mombasa in what is likely to push up tourist arrivals during this peak season.
The Wildebeest migration in the Maasai Mara is also a high key event boosting the start of the high season.
This saw most hospitality outlets in the Mara experience a surge in local tourists, some of who visited the Mara for the first time.
The tourism sector seems to be on a steady rebound amid the pandemic with the country receiving 300,000 international visitors in the first half of the year.
Latest data from the Tourism Research Institute (TRI) shows Kenya received 305, 635 international visitors between January and June this year.
