Hoteliers bank on locals as foreigners shy away

Domestic tourism could help sustain hotel occupancies in beach resorts at the Coastal region as international tourists shy away.

According to the Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC), hotels have recorded about 60 per cent occupancy, mostly domestic with fewer international repeat guests. By this time, hotels would be nearly fully booked.

KAHC Coast Branch Chief Executive, Sam Ikwaye said intensified marketing championed by the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) has led to a slight surge in locals patronising hotels at the Coast. “We have witnessed people from Nairobi and upcountry flock hotels despite the existing challenges ranging from insecurity to other challenges,” Ikwaye said. At the Mombasa Beach Hotel, flagship of the Kenya Safari Lodges and Hotel (KSLH), more than 50 per cent of guests who have checked in are locals.

“We received some slight cancellation of about 7 per cent of earlier confirmed bookings from upcountry clients though,’’ KSLH acting General Manager, Mr Silas Kiti said.

Kiti said they have lined up a number of exotic entertainment menus to usher in the festive season and expects last minute bookings to increase. “Kenyans are last minute people and we anticipate a rush for the remaining rooms here,’’ Kiti said.

Kenya Coast Tourist Association (KCTA) said the different hotel categories have each been performing differently in terms of festive season holiday accommodation trends.

Millie Odhiambo, KCTA executive officer said that a number of budget and boutique hotels have recorded over 60 per cent occupancies. At the five star Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort & Spa, acting General Manager, Mr Ken Mwichuli said they have recorded 80 per cent occupancy at the 335 roomed resort. “This year, we have decided apart from the usual merry making that goes with Christmas and New Year festivities to sensitize holidaymakers on the need to care for mother nature and themed the celebrations – Going Green Across the Continent,’’ he said.

Mombasa Serena Beach Hotel General Manager, Tuva Mwahunga said the bookings have remained low with the hotel still open for bookings. “This Christmas is not busy as the previous years. People have been shying away due to insecurity concerns and the faster the government acts the better,’’ the GM said.

In the year to July 2014, the number of tourists into the country declined by 14.9 per cent to 998,069 down from 1.173 million recorded in similar period in 2013. The decline has been attributed to runaway insecurity.

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