November could be the month of reopening between Italy and Kenya.
This can be seen from the news and declarations coming in these days from several fronts.
On the Kenyan side, for the first time the curfew regime has been extended for only 30 days, instead of 60 as previously. The signal that they want to monitor the situation of Covid-19 comes directly from the Ministry of Health, which in extending the curfew until next November 4, said that day by day the situation is improving and that in order to relax the security measures, in increasing the percentage of total vaccinated, a constant percentage below 5% positivity must be recorded on the swabs for at least 14 days, as suggested by the World Health Organization.
There is optimism from Tourism Minister Najib Balala who on the sidelines of the Magical Kenya Travel Expo media forum said, "We are optimistic, I really believe that in about a month we will be able to open. The ongoing vaccination program in the country is crucial for us to be able to reopen and will increase confidence in us from international travelers. Discussions are already underway between the ministries involved in the decision, because now the priority is to permanently reopen the economy."
However, there is still mistrust, after the disappointment of those who expected the reopening as early as October. The trade associations ask that the activities that have suffered most, especially those related to catering and nightlife, be protected as soon as possible.
Even just moving the curfew to midnight would be a good intermediate solution.
This could attract tourists who demand vacations where they can also have fun at night.
The halt in international tourism has already caused Kenya a loss of 130 billion shillings in potential revenue, not counting the induced earnings related to the hospitality sector.
According to the government, October should be the most intensive month for vaccinations, even if the goal of 10 million immunized adults, which the Minister Balala has reiterated his intention to reach, still seems a mirage.
On the other hand, there is Italy and the possibility that something may be released with respect to travel to African destinations at the expiry of the last extension of the Ministry of Health Decree, set for Monday, October 25.
Agencies, tour operators and entrepreneurs in the tourism sector linked to Kenya and Zanzibar are working to ask, after some destinations (in Africa, Seychelles, Mauritius and Sharm El Sheik with Marsa Alam in Egypt) were declared "covid free corridors", that those countries in which Italians are used to enjoying their winter vacations be moved from band E to band D. That is, that we can leave Italy with Green Pass and buffer, and re-enter with buffer on departure and arrival but without having to perform even one day of quarantine. This would be essential to allow many compatriots to celebrate Christmas and New Year's Eve in the warmth of the equator, as about 30 thousand people a year used to do before the pandemic.
The signals that arrive make us hope, but to understand what will be the line of the Government in view of the winter months will have to get under date, or just before next October 25.