TRA urges hoteliers to consider pocket friendly rates for April holidays

 

Tourism Regulatory Authority Chairman Ngumbao Nyule. [Maarufu Mohamed, Standard]

Tourism Regulatory Authority (TRA) is appealing to hoteliers to review holiday packages to entice local people to take holiday during the April holidays.

TRA chairman, Mr Ngumbao Nyule said that following the growth of domestic tourist numbers last year, it is prudent that the hoteliers encourage more domestic tourists to sample their hotels by coming up with affordable rates.

''We had a fruitful 2018 in terms of tourist arrivals at our key destinations and we are optimistic of even a better year,'' Nyule said.

Apart from hotels, Nyule urged the National Museums of Kenya, Bomas of Kenya and the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to introduce more pocket friendly rates so as to have many locals and regional visitors to sample the various attraction facilities during the short April holidays.

He said that destination Mombasa remained a popular holiday place to visit adding that the recent tour by Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni and his choice of a brand new hotel, Nyali Golf View Residence (NGVR) where he spent two days and his historic usage of the Madaraka Express passenger train to travel back to Nairobi was a big boost to tourism.

''All indications are that following President Museveni's visit to Mombasa, more of the ever larger Ugandan travelling population will flock to Mombasa for holiday and business,'' Nyule said.

Nyule said that it was befitting for Kenyans to take advantage of enticing holiday deals and go for holiday adding that by so doing they will be helping boost the local economy.

At the same time, Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC) Coast branch Executive office, Mr Sam Ikwaye said that this year’s prospects for April holiday occupancies were looking promising.

''There has been lots of inquiries and confirmed bookings in all forms of accommodation facilities along the Coastal Kenya and this is good news as we near the low season after April,'' he said.

Ikwaye said that already the Madaraka Express Passenger trains are fully booked for the holiday seasons.

''There is information that trains are fully booked while low cost carriers like Silverstone Air, Skyward Express, Fly 540 are also reporting good business flying passengers into and out of Mombasa,'' Ikwaye said.