By Philip Mwakio
Hoteliers at the Kenyan Coast are bracing for an improved high season beginning this month.
Already bookings from overseas clients indicate that hotel space has been taken up in some resorts up to March next year.
At the Jacaranda Indian Ocean Beach Resort in the South Coast, Hotel General Manager, Gomeri Kombo said that they are expecting to have good season.
"We hope our political leaders will be more civil enough as they prepare for next years general elections to avoid a repeat of chaos that characterise the elections,’’ Gomeri told The Standard.
Low season
He said that the low season has not been a disappointing one for them as both local and international conferences have kept them afloat. "We did not close for the low season since we had quite a number of workshops and seminars here which made our occupancies above average," the GM said.
And the Sales and Marketing Manager for Ashnil Group of Hotels, Paul Kurgat, said the groups three properties, Ashnil Mara, Ashnil Aruba and Ashnil Samburu are poised for average occupancies after receiving very good bookings.
Demand growing
"However, the Mara circuit still faces challenges in beds availability as its demand keeps growing," Kurgat said.
He added that since all their properties are completely new, they have done minor touch ups in anticipation of increased arrivals.
Meanwhile, tourism players have hit out at the slow pace of implementing the construction of a road by-pass to connect Mombasa and the greater South Coast.
" We have a very nice product in the South Coast with pristine white sandy beaches ringing around the beaches here. What keeps most visitors away is the delays still being experienced at the Likoni Ferry crossing channel," Kombo said.
He added that air connectivity from Nairobi has improved greatly with services by Air Kenya, Safari Link and Fly 540 taking up space at the Ukunda airfield.
"The by-pass will ensure increased flow to the South Coast apart from opening it up for more businesses,’’ Kombo said.
