This archive report was first published on 23 June 2020.
Published on June 23, 2020, the annual wildebeest migration at the Masai Mara Game Reserve is underway, but with a twist. International tourists who usually flock to the area are nowhere to be seen due to suspended flights, leaving hotels and camps to rely on domestic tourism.
John Kalesi, a hotelier, is among those hoping to earn some cash from local tourism. He appealed to the government to allow hotels to host local tourists, assuring compliance with Covid-19 regulations.
More than 100 hotels in the Mara were closed when Covid-19 was reported in Kenya. The chairman of the Narok chapter of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, David Mbatiany, has asked the government to disburse tourism stimulus funds to support hotels in the reserve.
Mr. Mbatiany also appealed to the county government to allow the hotels to operate during the peak season, enabling them to recover from the three-month dry season. He emphasized that many Kenyans are willing to tour the Mara to witness the wildebeest migration with their families and need hotels.
