The economic shocks of the Covid 19 pandemic were observed across all industries and sectors worldwide.
Some industries adapted to digital platforms and continued their operations albeit with some disruptions. A few others encountered unprecedented failures due to travel restrictions and social distancing, thereby finding it extremely difficult to survive the pandemic.
Tourism is one industry that cannot survive and grow without the mobility of tourists. Kenya was one of the countries that felt the extreme shocks of Covid in its tourism sector.
The country is the third-largest travel and tourism destination in Africa, after South Africa and Nigeria, and the tourism sector contributes 4.4 per cent to the country's GDP.
Prior to the pandemic, Kenya received more than 2 million annual visitors, mainly from the US, the UK, India, China, Germany, France and Italy.
As the country reopens its economy following the easing of travel restrictions across the world, there is a massive opportunity to increase the number of tourists visiting Kenya.
In order to create a more resilient tourism sector, it is paramount that we first support the growth of the local tourism industry. Kenyans supported the tourism industry leading to many hotels surviving the pandemic even though the revenues earned from local tourism may have hardly covered the running fixed costs of the hotel industry. Local tourism increased and assisted in occupying the rooms in the hotels.
We also need more visibility and accessibility of high-end luxury properties. Due to this pandemic, many of the very high-end luxury properties would have had to close shop if they did not decide to offer usage to the locals (at significantly below normal revenue levels). This was a popular move in many luxurious lodges such as in the Laikipia. These were previously available to the wealthy international market.
The beach destination holidaymakers and the hotel owners in the coastal region need support from the government in terms of allowing international flights to land at Moi International Airport in Mombasa.
This will allow beach/luxury holidaymakers to bypass Nairobi's very busy Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
The national carrier Kenya Airways should consider scheduling some direct international flights to and fro Mombasa, partnering with cities such as London, Mumbai, New York, Melbourne, Shanghai, Paris, Brussels, Rio, Montreal, Cairo, and Cape Town.
The government needs to consider employing expert medics from India to ensure easy access to expert medicare in Kenya. Kenyans should not have to fly out to seek medical attention.
It is high time that the medical fraternity came together with the government to strategise on providing medicare options within Kenya. India is the largest attractor of international medical tourism.
The Tourism ministry may need to consider increasing/involving more private hoteliers, which are basically divided into beach/luxury, safaris, business/conferencing sub-sectors within the hospitality industry.
There are current associations already in touch with the ministry, but it seems the frustration level of hoteliers is still high and motivation levels are quite low.
Some form of restructuring may be required and evaluated so that we as a country can better market Kenya as the preferred touristic destination in competition with surrounding countries.
Kenya is already a strategically placed country in Africa and has all the resources and manpower to easily increase its tourism revenues if there is increased involvement of the private sector players in policy and strategy guidance/creation.
Partner, PKF Kenya. [email protected]
The views expressed are the writer's and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of PKF
“WATCH: The latest videos from the Star”
