This archive report was first published on 25 December 2019.
Naivasha, dubbed the 'Second Coast', is usually bustling with tourists during the festive season. However, this year, hoteliers are facing a bleak Christmas and New Year due to low bookings.
According to a survey, majority of the hotels around the town were half full compared to previous years. The drop in bookings has been attributed to harsh economic times and the poor status of the Moi South Lake Road which leads to the majority of the hotels.
Many hoteliers have been forced to cut down on the size of their workforce, despite investing heavily for the festive season. Lake Naivasha Resort proprietor Rahab Mwihaki described the current season as the worst ever witnessed in the industry.
“At a time like this last year we were overbooked but this year things are totally different," Mwihaki said.
Lake Naivasha Hotel Owners’ Association chairman Peter Mehta blamed the poor state of Moi South Lake Road for the low bookings. He noted that the government is to blame for the delayed rehabilitation.
“No one wants to pass through this stretch and it’s the only one that leads to all these tourist hotels," Mehta said.
Mehta’s Cray Fish Camp on the shores of the lake is also struggling, with bookings at 30 per cent. Despite investing heavily, they are staring at one of the largest losses ever seen.
Naivasha Deputy County Commissioner Mathioya Mbogo assured that security had been intensified in and out of the town to ensure those visiting are safe. However, the poor state of the road remains a major concern.
