•Hotels in Mombasa and Diani are expected to be fully booked between December 23 and January 2, with families forming a bulk of visitors on an average 4-5 days-stay.
•Facilities in parks mainly Maasai Mara, Amboseli and the Mount Kenya circuit have also indicated booming business a head of the festive season.
Image: ALPHONCE GARI
Kenyans, led by Nairobians have defied the tough economic times and treated themselves to holidays this year, with hotels reporting high bookings over the Christmas and New Year period.
Hotels at the coast and key parks in the country have reported good business with most facilities fully booked over the festive period.
This, even as the high cost of living and reduced disposable income remains a concern for a large number of households in the country, in the wake of high commodity prices, transport costs and job losses.
The Coast region, a leading beach holiday destination tops in bookings from both the domestic and international tourists, industry trends indicate.
The domestic market is however the main source of tourists accounting for more than 80 per cent of December bookings.
International arrivals have however picked compared to last year.
Domestic visitors are mainly from Nairobi, which has traditionally contributed significantly to coast tourism over festive seasons.
According to the Kenya Coast Tourism Association, this year has witnessed a 20 per cent increase in bookings compared to last year, with hotels in Mombasa, Diani, Kilifi and Lamu reporting growth in business.
“The bookings are all good with 90 to 100 occupancy during Christmas period with exception of town hotels. There is a tremendous growth in domestic market,” KCTA chief executive, Julius Owino, told the Star yesterday.
The high numbers are an indicator Kenyan households are still determined to make holiday plans despite concerns over a high cost of living and reduced disposable income.
Hotels in Mombasa and Diani are expected to be fully booked between December 23 and January 2, with families forming a bulk of visitors on an average four to five days-stay.
Facilities in parks mainly Maasai Mara, Amboseli and the Mount Kenya circuit have also indicated booming business a head of the festive season, with the Kenya Association of Hotel Keepers and Caterers (KAHC) remaining positive over this year.
"The numbers are coming fromboth domestic and international travelers. We need to maintain the momentum in 2024," KAHC chief executive Mike Macharia said.
A random booking inquiry by the Star, on facilities in Maasai Mara, indicated Mara Serena Safari Lodge, Sarova Mara Game Camp and top-dollar tended camps among them Muthu Keekorok Lodge were fully booked for Christmas and New Year.
“Kenyans have really done justice to the coast product and safari. We have seen a massive improvement in domestic travel. This year will definitely surpass 2019,”Macharia added.
The Western circuit including Kisumu, Kakamega and facilities in the lake region are also expected to record god business, with last minute bookings seen to drive numbers.
In Tsavo, facilities have also reported full bookings over the period, which traditionally comes with high demand for travel.
Key facilities includes Taita Hills Safari Resort and Salt Lick Safari Lodge, overseen by Pollmans Tours & Safaris, which also has a hand at Diani’s baobab beach resort and spa.
“We are very busy, demand is good and we can’t thank Kenyans enough…they have done very well for us and we hope this continues next year. The international market is also doing very good,” Pollmans' Group Operations Director, Mohammed Hersi, said in a telephone interview with the Star.
The seasoned hotelier has however called on the government to ensure a predictable business environment, if the industry and other key sectors of the economy are to thrive.
This includes a friendly and predictable tax regime, where currently, businesses are decrying high taxation and cost of doing business.
Tourism remains a critical economic sector in Kenya, accounting for about 10.4 per cent of the GDP and employing nine per cent of the total workforce in the country.
While the international market remains a key source of foreign exchange for the country, the domestic market has remained critical in supporting the sector, which is picking from the impact of Covid-19.
Last year, international tourist arrivals were 1,483,752 which represents 70.45 per cent increase as compared to 2021 arrivals of 870,465, a period that the sector as hard-hit by the pandemic.
Inbound receipts in the year grew up to Sh268.09 billion compared to Sh146.51 billion in 2021 which is a growth of 83 per cent
“The domestic market sustained the sector during Covid-19 pandemic and therefore it is evident that it is a market that cannot be ignored. There is need to develop packages that can be consumed by all Kenyans putting into consideration the elderly and physically challenged,” the Tourism ministry notes in its recent sector performance report.