Regulator links tourism decline to hotel quality

Corporate News

Tourism CS Phyllis Kandie with businessman Chris Kirubi (centre) and tour operators chairman Adam Jillo when she launched the ‘Make It Kenya’ campaign this month. PHOTO | FILE 

By MATHIAS RINGA

The Tourism Regulatory Authority (TRA) expects to have finished classifying Kenya’s hotels by June next year.

Speaking at Travellers Beach Hotel in Mombasa during a pre-classification training for hotel owners and managers, the TRA director general Lagat Kipkorir challenged hotel-owners at the Coast to refurbish their hotels to international standards in order to attract more tourists.

Mr Kipkorir said a drop in hotel standards has also contributed to the low number of international visitors to the region in addition to insecurity.

For the sector to recover, he said, there is a need for hotel-owners to upgrade their facilities for quality accommodation and service.

“This month, there were some tourists from Mexico who were killed in a tragic case of mistaken identity but  still thousands of holidaymakers  are flocking to Egypt’s resorts,” he said.

“Tourists visit Egypt in large numbers because hotels there offer quality accommodation and service. The local hotels should borrow a leaf from the Egyptian resorts,” he explained.

TRA expects to conclude the pre-classification training for the whole country this week. So far, it’s only Mombasa and Taita Taveta counties that are being trained up to Friday.

“I am glad that we are completing the pre-classification training this week to pave the way for the classification of hotels in Mount Kenya region, Narok and Nakuru counties next month,” he said.

He added that although insecurity was a big factor that contributed to the tourism decline, the government has taken measures to address the situation.

The TRA boss said that although Egypt has for years been facing political upheavals, in 2014 the North African country attracted 9.6 million international tourists.

He said improvement of hotel standards across the country could play a major role in reviving the troubled sector.

The TRA boss said when the Authority recently concluded the classification of hotels in Nyanza, Western and North Rift, only one hotel was rated as a four-star while less than five hotels were rated as three-star.

He called on tourism investors to capitalise on the lack of five-star properties in the three regions to build top class hotels to help attract high-end holidaymakers.

“Our classification results have shown that there is a serious need for investors to build five-star hotels in Kisumu, Kakamega and Eldoret to be able to serve affluent tourists,” he said.

“There is also a need for Eldoret and Iten to have high-class hotels to accommodate international athletes who come to the region for training. This way, we shall uplift international arrivals.”