This archive report was first published on 20 April 2020.
As of April 20, 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought the travel and tourism industry in Kenya to a complete standstill due to restrictions on movement to contain the spread of the virus.
According to Kenya Association of Travel Agents Chief Executive Officer Ms. Agnes Mucuha, the virus has caused unprecedented disruption in the aviation, travel, and tourism industry.
The Government has imposed stringent measures to contain the spread of the virus, including banning international flights and gatherings of any kind, leading to the cancellation of major conventions and events in the Country.
Ms. Mucuha stated, “COVID-19 has hit the industry really hard resulting in loss of jobs and revenue for travel agents. Many have had to close their businesses. The beginning of the year had so much promise. Kenya had recorded an increase in international arrivals after receiving 1,444,670 arrivals between July 2019 and February 2020 as compared to 1,423,548 over the same period last year.”
Over 90 percent of bookings for the month of April 2020 have been cancelled after Europe, America, and the Middle East issued lockdown notices for non-citizens.
Ms. Mucuha added that the industry forecast on bookings for the period May, June, and July 2020 is also extremely depressed as travellers have opted to postpone their travel until quarter four.
The total spending on travel in Kenya in 2019 was Ksh 1.7 billion on tickets, airline operating fees, and ancillary products and services, which is now projected to plunge by 60% by the end of 2020.
Ms. Mucuha warned that the estimated losses by the travel industry alone are severe enough to create job loss across the sectors, with the full impact of the crisis expected to last at least three quarters.
