Hotels turn to locals as foreign arrivals dip

By Philip Mwakio

Strapped of much-needed capital after a dip in international tourist arrivals hoteliers are now using special packages to woo domestic tourists.

Statistics by the Consumer Insight Africa once showed that one out of every ten Kenyans goes on a high spending domestic holiday.

The formation of the Domestic Tourism Council of Kenya (DTCK), which falls under the Ministry of Tourism, is geared towards developing travel and holiday culture by Kenyans.

An investor in the industry at the Kenyan Coast has fused hotel , hostel and open camping facilities to attract both overseas and local guests.

In total the separate hostel facility can take upto 100 guests.

The resort also have ample grounds in its 38.5 acre parcel of land part of which serves as camping grounds- it is the first resort along the Kenya Coast to offer camping facilities accommodating upto 80 campers.

Panoramic

The hotel’s main wing consists of 72 luxurious en suites rooms with a panoramic view of the Indian ocean.

There are also two large well-equipped conference rooms and facilities that can cater for up to 600 people.

The Jumuia Conference & Beach Resort in Kanamai, Kilifi District, a project of the National Council of Churches of Kenya has rebranded its facility to cater for an ever-growing number of domestic tourists.

The Resort’s General manager, Mr Martin Mburugu, says that at the resort, they have facilities to cater for high spenders and those keen on a cut budget.

"We have hostel accommodation that could take youth parties or even local families travelling as a party within the larger hotel premises," he says.

Mburugu says that a number of recreational and sporting facilities exist to help keep the adventurous local holidaymaker busy all through their stay at Jumuia Conference & Beach Resort.

These include a standard soccer beach, beach volley (played mostly at low water tides) a larger than life free flowing swimming pool and a basketball pitch.