Christmas travel boosts ailing tourism sector

An Aerial view of the Jomo Kenyatta Public beach where hundreds of Kenyans marked the Christmas day in this photo taken on December 25, 2014. PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

In Summary

• Airlines, hotels and tourism firms created special packages that have been attractive to holiday makers thus enabling more Kenyans to visit various destinations across the country.
• The high number of domestic tourists had a multiplier effect across the economy by helping retain jobs and create new ones.

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By KENNEDY KIMANTHI
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Travel by Kenyans to the coast and other towns over Christmas has helped boost the ailing tourism sector.

“Kenyans have been a major boost for most establishments especially at the coast that had been suffering due to low numbers of visitors.

"The move is also a show of a sense of patriotism and support for the sector,” Tourism Cabinet Secretary Phyllis Kandie said in a statement.

She noted that the high number of domestic tourists had a multiplier effect across the economy by helping retain jobs and create new ones.

Visitors queue to enter the Safari walk at the Nairobi National Park on December 25, 2014. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Ms Kandie further lauded efforts by airlines, hotels and tourism firms to create special packages that have been attractive to holiday makers thus enabling more Kenyans to visit various destinations across the country.

“I wish to urge hotels airlines and tourism operators to continue being creative and create innovative and attractive packages to attract more Kenyans to go on holiday even beyond this festive season.

“We should be able to develop competitive and sustainable packages that will ensure tourism blossoms and Kenyans are able to go for holiday thorough out the year as per their plans and budgeting,” she said.

Ms Kandie said domestic tourism has boosted the ailing sector that was hit by insecurity especially at the coast and travel warnings issued by some western countries.

The travel warnings followed a spate of terror attacks and violent crime in Mombasa, Lamu and Tana River counties between May and July. Hotels registered low occupancy due to insecurity.

The CS assured both local and international tourists that the country was safe for holiday and said the government would hold negotiations with various international governments to review and lift travel advisories.

This will encourage more visitors to come to Kenya, she said.

“We want to eliminate the low and high seasons so that tourism facilities enjoy high number of tourists throughout the year. We also remain optimistic that 2015 will bring better tidings for the industry that did not fare well in 2014 due to insecurity challenges,” Ms Kandie said.