Coast hotels lay off 10,000 workers over low tourist season

More than 10,000 workers at the Coast have been sent home following the closure of some hotels due to low tourist season.

At least 40 per cent of hotels across the region have either closed or scaled down operations.

Hotels in Malindi and Watamu are the worst hit after chartered airlines from Italy ended flights to Mombasa last Saturday owing to low passenger numbers.

According to Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC) Malindi and Watamu branch vice-chairman Philemon Mwavala, 80 per cent of hotels in Kilifi County have shut down due to an international tourist drought.

Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA) North Coast branch secretary Michael Yaa said over 5,500 workers in Malindi and Watamu have been laid-off following the closure of hotels since last week.

Of those sent home, more than 3,000 are permanent and contracted workers while 2,500 casuals have also been laid-off.

The KUDHEIHA official added that he expects more workers to lose livelihoods as more hotels are expected to shut down by end this month.

He said it was unfair for employers to send permanent workers home on unpaid leave from this month to mid-July when the hotels re-open for the high season.

“According to Labour laws, employers are required to pay permanent workers leave allowance in case they are told to go home when business is low,” he said.

“As things are now, workers are going home empty-handed, yet they have families depending on them,” he lamented.

WORSENING CRISIS

Mr Yaa called on the government to intervene over the matter, arguing that it was wrong for employers to punish workers over the tourism downturn.

In Mombasa and Kwale counties, the KUDHEIHA branch secretary Zack Osore, said 3,000 casual workers have been laid-off.

He said another 2,500 hotel workers on contracts in Diani resort town and Mombasa were likely to be sent home by the end of this month when some hotels shut down.

He added that about 10 hotels in Diani are expected to close down for the low season or renovations as international holidaymakers are hard to come by.

Mr Osore warned that more workers might be laid-off unless the government fast tracked the revival of the industry.

“Thousands of our members are facing hard times as the hotels have been hit by low guest numbers,” he said.

The trade unionist urged the government to come up with effective marketing strategies to help woo back more international visitors to give hotel workers a sustainable lifeline.

KAHC Coast executive officer Sam Ikwaye said the country could attract more tourists if both the traditional and emerging markets could be enlightened on the government incentive programmes.

“There is need for the international tourist markets to be informed that the Kenyan government has cut downsized park entry fees by Sh3,000 to woo more wildlife lovers to the country,” he added.

Last month, Tourism Cabinet secretary Najib Balala, said he expected international tourist arrivals to increase during the forthcoming high season due to aggressive campaigns in traditional markets of UK, Germany, Italy and France.

The CS added that the impact of the high season would be felt in December when many international visitors are expected to pour into the country for holidays.

Last month, the government signed contracts with some European chartered airlines which are expected to resume flights to Mombasa between mid-July and August this year.