Insecurity spells big losses for hoteliers

Tourism operators have warned that it will take years for the sector to recover from the effects of insecurity.

Hoteliers and tour operators from the Coast told the Tourism Recovery Task Force that they had lost international business for 2015 and 2016 due to insecurity in Mombasa and other regions.

And in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve in Narok County, some hotels have sent their employees on unpaid indefinite leave, as tourist arrivals have hit a historic low due to insecurity and the Ebola outbreak, which has killed thousands in parts of west Africa.

Mara Intrepid and Mara Explorian Hotels General Manager Steve Nzuki said hotels had to send workers home due to low business.

“Big hotel chains like ours, the Sarova, Keekorok, Serena are the ones that are still operating, but the small tented camps have closed doors and sent workers home.”

Unconfirmed reports indicate that up to 2,300 workers have bees sent home.

MASSIVE DECLINE

Traditional tourist destinations suffered a massive decline in arrivals following terrorist attacks and other criminal acts across the country as new circuits benefited from an explosion in domestic tourists seeking alternative places to go.

The operators in the Coast circuit warned that they did not expect much even in 2017 since the next General Election will be due that year.

Hotel occupancy in Mombasa is now at an average of 35 per cent, compared to 70 per cent in the same period last year, while Kilifi and Kwale counties have 20 per cent and 18 per cent, respectively.

Pollman’s Tours and Safaris managing director Khalid Shapi said leading operators and travel agents in Europe had hinted that they would not market Kenya until November or December, 2016, depending on the security situation.

As a result, charter flights from Europe to Mombasa have plummeted to only four a week compared to 32 a week in the same period last year, he said.

He attributed the airlines’ pullout from the Mombasa route to low passenger numbers. “The largest tour firms and travel agents in the traditional source markets are no longer selling Kenya due to the rising insecurity.”

Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers Vice-Chairman Wasike Wasike suggested that 6,000 police officers assigned to protect political leaders be deployed to Mombasa and other regions.

LOWER PARK FEES

He said it did not make sense for 30 per cent of the police force to protect politicians while 40 million Kenyans and visitors were not safe.

“When security is improved, the Western countries could review the travel advisories which have adversely affected the sector.”

Kenya Association of Tour Operators coast branch chairperson Monika Solanki urged the Kenya Wildlife Service to lower its park fees.

She said Kenya had lost a huge number of wildlife enthusiasts owing to Kenya’s $80 (Sh7,200) park fees compared to Tanzania’s $50 (Sh4,500).

“Hotels have reduced their holiday package rates and so KWS should also do so to encourage tourists to visit our country,” she added.

Mr Chris Modigell, a hotelier, called on the government to quickly create a public relations agency to counter Kenya’s negative publicity.

Mr Modigell, who is also a member of the Tourism Recovery Task force, said the agency would help spread the message that Kenya is free from Ebola.

The task force is in Coast region to gather views to include in a tourism recovery strategy report, which it is expected to Present to President Kenyatta next month.

The tourism players were presenting their views to the team at Voyager Hotel in Mombasa on Tuesday.