There is a strong optimism among the operators of the hotel sector on the Kenyan coast in view of the next winter season, starting in December.
The recent meeting of trade associations, held in Diani, confirmed that bookings for the period between the last month of the year and January 2020 have already reached 70% of the occupations of the major hospitality facilities.
"Despite the global economic challenges that have influenced the travel patterns of international tourists, we are optimistic: the high season in Kenya will be good - said the President of the Kenya Hotel Keepers and Caterers Sam Ikwaye - we have just started to receive reservations, but everything is going very well.
Many of these bookings start at the beginning of December and concern the so-called domestic tourism, of Kenyans who will have precisely the holidays in that period, considered the Kenyan summer.
As for foreigners, however, as always, the large numbers will be concentrated from 20 December to 12 January, with particular interest in the savannah and national parks and reserves, as well as coastal destinations such as Watamu, Malindi, Diani, Lamu and Mombasa.
Another important fact concerns air bookings for the high season period: it is almost impossible already now to find flights from Nairobi to Mombasa, of any local airline, and are quickly running out even the routes Nairobi-Malindi and Nairobi-Ukunda.
This should advise the companies Jambojet, Fly540, Sax and Silverstone to add flights at least during the Christmas period.
Minister of Tourism Najib Balala is satisfied with the growth of visitors that appears from the data transmitted by his research institute. Although the increase in the first six months, compared to 2018, was minimal (around one percent), the months of July and August have shown significant improvements and with the tail swing at the end of the year Balala is convinced to improve the record of his country. The Ministry of Tourism has in fact predicted a growth of 10 percent of total arrivals this year, certainly marking a figure that will go beyond the 2,025,206 admissions in the country reported in 2018, the highest number ever reached in the history of tourism in Kenya. To these numbers must be added of course the internal tourism, made not only of beds in hotels and alternative accommodations (residence, AirBnB) but also of apartments and villas for rent.
These numbers give us hope for the supply chain needed to move the entire tourism industry, which on the Kenyan coast creates jobs, professionalism and makes people feel good.