This archive report was first published on 30 June 2020.
As the world grapples with the Covid-19 pandemic, Kenya's tourism sector has been dealt a crushing blow. The grounding of passenger flights in March 2020 was a turning point, marking the beginning of a long and arduous journey for the industry.
With foreign tourists no longer arriving, hotels have been reduced to ghost premises, and tourism-related businesses, including transport, have been severely affected. In the Coast region, the little curio and handicraft businesses popular with tourists have been wiped out.
Domestic tourism, though insignificant in terms of numbers, has also been impacted by the cessation of movement into and out of Nairobi and Mombasa, key hubs in the travel industry. The massive layoffs by hotels have not spared the upcountry attractions, leaving the captivating annual wildebeest migration to the wild animals.
Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala has revealed that the industry has lost Sh80 billion, with 1.6 million jobs at risk as sales plummeted by 60-80 per cent. In February 2020, there were 163,000 tourist arrivals, but since the lockdown, none have been recorded.
However, experts expect the country to emerge stronger from the pandemic, and the government has taken steps to support the sector. The Sh53 billion stimulus package includes soft loans for hotels and related establishments, with Sh2 billion allocated for renovating facilities and restructuring businesses.
Additionally, the sector will hire 5,500 community scouts for the Kenya Wildlife Service at a cost of Sh1 billion and support 160 community conservancies to the tune of Sh1 billion. As the strict guidelines are relaxed, the industry must begin to fashion its recovery programme.
