Tourism stakeholders, Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC) said the sector has suffered a number of cancellations with tourists fearing for their personal security.
The tourism stakeholders are definitely not a happy lot given the amount of effort and time it has taken to get the sector back to it’s feet after the backslide experienced in the-not-so distant-past due to terrorist attacks.
The association however, did not reveal the exact number of cancellations. KAHC’s CEO, Mike Macharia, said images of violent protests found their way into the international media, painting a scary picture of the country.
Even worse, according to Macharia, were the failed bookings which are hurting the industry. The sector which shed about 30,000 jobs last year is still recovering from a series of travel advisories by western governments to their citizens.
The Kenya Tourism Federation (KFT) Chairperson Lucy Karume said tourism is a sensitive sector that depends on assurances of personal security in order to thrive. She advised those aggrieved with the electoral body to take into account the welfare and rights of the tourism players.
“We urge our esteemed leaders to allow the tourism sector to recover in a conducive atmosphere, both now and in the run-up to the General Elections,” said Karume.
The stakeholders, however, were happy with the Government interventions meant to spur growth in the sector, referring to the incentives given to the industry in the budget read for the year 2016/2017.
READ: Tourist arrivals to hit 1.6 million as Kenya’s tourism sector bounces back
