Hotels in Maasai Mara face closure

Half the hotels and tented camps in the world-famous Maasai Mara Game Reserve are illegal and face closure.

A report by Narok County Trade, Tourism and Wildlife executive officer Allan Tuala shows that out of the 150 hotels, tented camps and lodges, only half had licences from the Tourism ministry and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).

The report followed an audit by the county government last year.

Releasing the findings, Mr Tuala said most establishments did not pay taxes, depriving the national and county governments of millions of shillings in revenue.

The executive officer said that this was worsened by crowding in the game reserve, which has driven 80 per cent of the wildlife to nearby conservancies.

“The Maasai Mara has always been a problem because of overdevelopment, rivalry and competition among developers, which destroys our image internationally,” Mr Tuala said.

The county has suspended development of tourist centres in the game reserve, to await completion of a long-term management plan.

The congestion was a result of lack of co-ordination between Nema and the defunct Narok County Council.
DECONGEST PARK

“We are putting systems in place to decongest the park and make it the best tourism destination in the world.”

The county was seeking a change in licensing law for hospitality service providers through a Bill to be taken to Parliament, he added.

The proposed law would require developers to acquire a provisional license until they meet all requirements.

A 2008 survey by the Hotel and Restaurant Authority showed only 29 per cent of 108 units were legal.