Happy Day for Kenya !

Ailing tourism sector gets back on track

Published on March 6, 2008, 12:00 am

By Renson Mnyamwezi and Philip Mwakio

The ailing tourism sector is now showing signs of recovery. Tourism players said tourists arriving in Mombasa on charter planes have started visiting the region for safaris.

A spot check revealed that hospitality facilities have started recording relatively good bookings after almost a month-long break.

The Manager of Ngulia Safari Lodge, Mr Cyrus Kiti, said business was picking up, although at a slow pace. He said bed occupancy at the lodge had improved.

Kiti said staff members who had been sent home on unpaid leave have been recalled.

"Tourists are now trickling back to Tsavo National Park and business is taking a positive direction," he said.

A Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) tourism officer, Mr Joseph Gichohi, said he hoped poor bookings would become a thing of the past.

KWS has unveiled a programme towards promoting domestic tourism and revenue collection in Tsavo.

The conservation wildlife body has introduced a park shuttle bus service for public tours in the park.

Meanwhile, Kenya is participating at this year’s International Tourism Bourse (ITB) fair, which started in Berlin, Germany, on Wednesday.

The annual fair is a forum used to showcase various tourist attractions by players in the hospitality industry and forms an important marketing platform.

Kenya Tourist Board (KTB) Managing Director, Dr Ong’ong’a Achieng, said a delegation of Government officials was expected at the fair to boost marketing efforts after poll violence triggered a slump in tourist arrivals.

‘’We are here to drum up support for destination Kenya and hope that we shall succeed," said Ong’ong’a.

Thirty-six companies are showcasing their products at the Kenyan stand.

_______________________________________________________________________________

On 28th Feb
The two political rivals come up with an agreement on how to build a coalition government and get the country back on track.

The political crisis which has been seen in the country since the announcement of presidential election results now came to an end, with a lot of celebration in difference parts of the country..
This will bring back the Kenyan booming economy, including the dynamic tourism industry.

___________________________________________________________

New-born rhino named Kofi Annan in Kenya

As of Feb 27th:
A new-born rhinoceros in Kenya has been named Kofi Annan in honour of the former UN Secretary General. Baby Kofi was born at the weekend in the community-owned Ol Choro Oirogua Conservancy in the Maasai Mara reserve. Mr Annan is trying to mediate between President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga, who disputed the results of elections in December.
Kofi's birth on Feb 11th comes three months after a new strategy was announced to increase the numbers of endangered rhinos.

___________________________________________________________

As of Feb 23rd:
Since the post-election conflicts in January, we have been in contact with the clients who were planning on travelling with us to Kenya, and the people working in the tourism destinations for the latest update on how the country is doing.

The country has been doing its best in making things back to normal. These last weeks, the situation got calm, as solutions to the political crisis were trying to be found. Tourism have been seen gaining its stand within the Coastal Region by a boost of European tourists who came for a beach holiday.

For all our holiday travel applicants to Kenya, we would like to inform you that the Kenyan government and the people of Kenya are doing their best to solve the current crisis. We will keep you updated on this page about the situation. Please don't hesitate to contact us for any specific question.

In particular for our 2 workcamps, there are located in very rural places in where people are not involved in any political dispute. These camps will also bring people from different ethnies together and live in harmony. In the first days of arrival, welcomes from both local people and authorities will make you feel at home, as you will be living with the community and will be able to visit the people any time without making an appointment. Please let us know if you have any question by sending emails to volunteer@malaikaecotourism.com. For any information and changes, we will definitely let you know as your travel have been important and highly expected within these communities.

Please come back and visit this page to keep yourself updated.

Asante sana

Back