This archive report was first published on 19 May 2020.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread globally, Italy has taken steps to evacuate its citizens stuck in Kenya's coastal counties. According to reports, at least 500 Italian tourists were stranded in the region following the ban on international flights.
On Sunday, the first batch of 250 Italian nationals left the Moi International Airport in Mombasa, while another group is expected to depart on Thursday, May 21, 2020. The evacuation operation was coordinated by the Italian Foreign Ministry through the Italian Embassy in Kenya.
Speaking to journalists in Malindi, the Head of the Italian consulate, Freddy del Curatolo, explained that the Italians being evacuated were those who were scheduled to travel back to Italy between March and May but were unable to do so due to the ban on international flights, which was implemented on March 25, 2020.
“These are the many Italians who were scheduled to go back to Italy between March and May, but who could not do so following the suspension of international flights on March 25, 2020,” Curatolo said.
The evacuation has dealt a significant blow to the tourism and hospitality industries in the region, which were relying on the presence of the Italian tourists. Hotels and tour companies had been forced to retain skeleton staff to care for the stranded tourists, who were being served by employees who had opted to stay on.
Philemon Mwavala, the Chairman of the Kenya Coast Tourist Association in the North Coast Region, expressed concerns that the move would have a ripple effect on the economy of the entire coastal region, which relies heavily on tourism.
“Tourism and the hospitality sector in general are the worst hit so far. It is affecting quite a number of jobs particularly in this coastal area which is dependent on tourism. This will in turn affect every other sector within the economy of the coastal region and the country at large,” Mwavala said.
