Hotels in Maasai Mara record impressive bookings as Kenyans celebrate Easter

Hotels in the world-famous Maasai Mara Game Reserve have recorded impressive bookings this Easter holiday as Narok County government assures tourists of their security.

Most of the holiday makers are local tourists who are now on Easter holiday.

County Tourism Executive Nelson Keshei said security had been boosted with more regular police officers, Administration Police officers, General Service unit, tourist police and Narok County government rangers being deployed to the reserve.

Speaking during a press conference in Narok Town, Saturday, Mr Keshei said all hotels in the Mara had already recorded 90 per cent bookings by the start of the Easter holiday.

“We have intensified patrols in the park as a way of ensuring the safety of our tourists.

“We want to assure all those visiting the Mara that the place is safe.

“We have also asked the National Government to increase the tourist police because we do not want to leave anything to chance,” said Keshei.

HIRE POLICE RESERVISTS

He added that the county government intends to hire police reservist in centres around the park who will be furnishing the county with security intelligence.

Mr Keshei said several swoops have also been conducted in trading centres around the reserve to keep potential criminals at bay and who might be a threat to tourists.

He said preparations for the high season which commences in June have already began and called on the Western nations to lift the travel advisories that they have issued against their citizens.

A survey indicated that the most of those at the park are locals as foreigners shun the country because of the travel advisories that have been issued by the Western countries.

Sarova Mara Hotel manager David Kioko said they have reported an increase in bookings for Easter festivities, with domestic tourists pushing occupancy levels to 80-90 per cent, according to hoteliers.

Both international and local tourists started flocking the reserve earlier than expected giving the ailing sector a necessary boost for the Easter holidays.

Mr Musyoki said the unusual phenomena has cushioned the industry, which had been hit hard this year due to the Ebola scare and terrorism.

The new trend has forced the hotels to immediately recall their staff who were on forced leaves after the hotel business plummeted.

Although most hotels in the game reserve are still operating at below 50 per cent bed occupancy, Mr Musyoki said the streaming of tourists was welcome as the Easter season started.

The situation was the same at the Mara Ashnil Hotel, according to Paul Kurgat, the head of sales and marketing.

He attributed this to the government’s concerted efforts to promote local tourism.

He called on Narok Governor Samuel Tunai to prioritise on improving the two roads linking Narok to the Mara so as to attract more tourists.