Tourism rebounds as foreign visitors up 20pc

Holidaymakers enjoy costal serenity. File photo | nmg 

By MATHIAS RINGA

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Summary

• Foreign travel arrivals via Moi International Airport in Mombasa increased to 23,248 visitors in the period to February, up from 19, 390.
• The hotels say they had occupancy of between 70 and 75 per cent in quarter one, up from about 50 per cent in the same period last year and about 30 per cent in 2015.

International travel to the coast increased 19.8 per cent in the first two months of the year, indicating that tourism is starting to look up.

Official data show foreign travel arrivals via Moi International Airport in Mombasa increased to 23,248 visitors in the period to February, up from 19, 390.

The growth is welcome news for hoteliers who had been forced to cut jobs, slash pay and even close shop following the crippling effects of several travel alerts issued in 2014 after a spate of terrorist attacks on holiday towns.

The palm-fringed beaches of Mombasa, Kilifi, Watamu and Diani, long relied on tourist dollars to drive their economies.

The hotels say they had occupancy of between 70 and 75 per cent in quarter one, up from about 50 per cent in the same period last year and about 30 per cent in 2015.

“It is great news that 2017 is on with a great start of business. We have had an average occupancy of 75 per cent in quarter one in comparison to the 50 per cent we had at the same period last year,” said Bobby Kamani, managing director of Diani Reef Beach Resort, which has spent Sh150 million on renovations.

“January occupancies and revenues exceeded our expectations by 20 per cent,” he added.

Besides hotels, tourists support auxiliary sectors like handicraft makers, taxi business, fishermen and farmers are benefiting from the rebound
The sector is on course to regain its place as the highest foreign exchange earner.

Official data shows that tourism earned the country Sh99.7 billion last year compared to Sh84.5 billion in 2015. A majority of foreign visitors to Mombasa are holidaymakers looking to enjoy the warm weather.