This archive report was first published on 4 January 2020.
Published on January 4, 2020, a report by The Standard highlighted the need to move investment in hotels out of Nairobi to other regions in Kenya. The report noted that the uneven development of hotels in certain destinations has led to unequal development of the hospitality and tourism industry.
According to the report, major global brands such as Marriott, Pullman, Sheraton, Hilton, and Radisson have set up hotels in Nairobi, making it a favourite destination for investors in the hospitality industry. However, this has led to over-concentration of hotels in traditional tourism hotspots like Mara, Coast, and Nairobi, leaving other regions struggling with a shortage of quality accommodation.
Even economy budget hotels are lacking in these regions, making them unattractive and less competitive. The report called for drastic measures to change this trend, including government policies to move development of hotels to other regions and incentives to achieve this goal.
Developing the hospitality sector in the Western and Northern tourism circuit will boost visitor numbers and generate more revenue for the national and county governments, the report suggested.
