This archive report was first published on 7 August 2020.
Kenyan Coast Sees Rise in Self-Catering Bookings Amid COVID-19 Fears ¶
Friday, August 7, 2020
With the easing of travel restrictions, holidaymakers are opting for self-catering villas and apartments to minimize their risk of contracting COVID-19.
Lucia Luca, a Nairobi resident, recently checked into a self-catering villa in Diani Beach, Kwale County, after months of being cooped up indoors.
"I was longing to travel especially to the Kenyan coast. I will be in Diani for two weeks," she said.
Travelling during a pandemic is challenging, especially with fears of contracting the virus in a hotel. However, self-catering villas offer a safer alternative, allowing guests to isolate themselves with minimal interactions.
According to Nicola Nixon, the owner of Kilifi Konnection, an online site with self-catering holiday homes, traffic has been up since the lockdown measures were eased.
Her company manages and markets self-catering seaside properties along the Kenya coast, stretching from Lamu to Diani.
Self-catered villas gained popularity worldwide in the 1990s because the wealthy vacationers wanted privacy and flexibility. In the COVID-19 era, everyone wants that kind of privacy.
Raphael Ambasu, the managing director of Vamos Home, says he is seeing a light at the end of the tunnel after a tough time during the lockdown.
His company, which was started in 2014, has more than 1,600 listings in various locations across Kenya and plans to list more homes in Zanzibar, Kampala, and Dar es Salaam.
Self-catering accommodation by its very nature, he adds, allows for natural social distancing, with people visiting holiday properties staying in self-contained units without having to use shared facilities.
