This archive report was first published on 3 July 2020.
As the country continues to grapple with the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the tourism sector is feeling the pinch. With border closures and movement restrictions still in place, earnings from the sector are not expected to improve anytime soon.
According to Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala, the sector has already lost Sh80 billion in the first six months of the year. To revive it, Mr Balala has challenged players in the domestic market to set the right prices, noting that poor pricing is discouraging Kenyans from taking up their products.
One positive step has been taken by the Kenya Wildlife Service, which has reduced park entry fees for both locals and foreigners for a year. The KWS has also given a one-year rent relief to lodge owners in its parks and reserves, and is offering a 50 percent discount on filming fees in the parks to promote profiling of Kenya as a tourist destination in films.
These decisions are timely and offer a glimmer of hope for the struggling tourism sector. Hopefully, domestic players will take note and follow suit by cutting prices of their products.
