Local travel agents have called on the online community to stop circulating disinformation on the new coronavirus.
The agents say misleading information on the virus that has cause worldwide panic is affecting their business.
The
Kenya Association of Travel Agents (Kata) Thursday said travellers from
various parts of the world are cancelling their trips to Kenya.
“We
are calling on travellers to engage directly with Kata certified travel
agents for credible and factual information to guide their travel
decisions,” said Kata chairman Mohammed Wanyoike.
He
said that the travel industry has recorded a decline of six percent in
bookings in February and 10 percent in March following the outbreak of
the disease.
“We are expecting the
number of travellers to drop in the short-term as the travel
restrictions come into effect to key markets and destinations as
witnessed to China, South Korea, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Italy,” he said.
He said the sector is one of the most hard hit by the outbreak of the new coronavirus.
“There
has been cancellation of major conventions and events in cities,
leading to a major decline in passenger numbers and revenues for the
travel agents in Kenya,” he added.
Mr
Wanyoike said Kata is guiding travellers about available options and
providing recommendations for either rerouting their travel itinerary to
an alternative destination or re-booking to another date.
He said the agents are anticipating that business will resume to normal during the second half of the year.
Kata Treasurer Joseph Githitu said some more staff in the sector will be sent on leave.
“Although
we don’t foresee any layoffs, when there will be low volumes of
business, we are seeing a scenario where workers will be going on leave
as a way of managing staff,” said Dr Githitu.
Kata
in a statement noted that all International Air Transport Association
accredited airlines operating in Kenya have conformed with passenger
safety standards set by IATA and World Health Organisation.
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