Mombasa hotels prepared to host visitors

By PATRICK BEJA

This year, numbers of holidaymakers are expected to soar at the Coast.

Local and international tourists are expected to jam beaches for a much deserved Christmas and New Year leisure walk and swimming.

Some of the tourists usually take a leisure cruise on boats at some beaches and hence need for heightened safety measures.

Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC) Coast branch chairman Mr Titus Kangangi has said they hoped high numbers of tourists to flock the Coast.

And he says safety and security measures have been top in the preparations to handle the guests.

Kenya Red Cross Society, Kenya police, Kenya Wildlife, Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) and local authorities are working in concert to ensure a safe holiday.

"We have several meetings with various stakeholders such as the Kenya Red Cross to ensure safety and security of the visitors," Kangangi says.

Usually, a group of youth offers tubes to aid swimming particularly for first comers. They are also handy to assist the revelers in tackling the sea currents in the shallow waters.

And following the rise of safety incidences on Kenyan waters during the festive seasons, KMA has organised a safety awareness campaign at the Jomo Kenyatta Public Beach in Mombasa.

The beach located in Mombasa county pulls more than 10,000 holidaymakers a day on weekends, public holidays and festive season.

Beach emergency

The safety campaign includes setting up an emergency response centre right on the busy beach from December 23 to January 2.

KMA has partnered with the Maritime Police Unit, Kenya Wildlife Service and the Kenya Red Cross Society in setting up the centre.

The campaign would ensure that Kenyans exercise safety precautions while at the beach and other water recreation facilities, according to KMA public relations officer Ms Michelle Wanga.

"In this regard, KMA has partnered with the Maritime Police Unit, Kenya Wildlife Services and the Kenya Red Cross Society in setting up a beach emergency response centre at the said public beach to ensure that Kenyans exercise safety precautions while at the beach and other water recreation facilities," Wanga adds.

KMA, the Kenya Red Cross, police and KWS will be particularly vigilant on Christmas day at the busy beach.

Police are expected to fly over the Coastline to intensify air and ground patrols. With these numerous measures in place, experts say the country’s chief revenue earner is likely to hit record levels.