The Kenya tourism industry has been in a slump recently, with reports of significant loss to Tanzania due to various challenges affecting the country.
Among them is the increased entrance fees to various parks and reserves by the Kenya Wildlife Service(KWS) imposed in January 2024 which has negatively affected the tourism industry.
Maasai Mara Game Reserve is experiencing a dip in booking by tourists who have decried an extreme gate fee increase of almost 300 per cent from the previous KShs 9, 205 to now Kshs 26, 300.
Tourists who throng the reserve to witness the annual wildebeest migration are now opting to access the phenomenon via the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania which charges lower park fees.
Late last year KWS announced that park fees would be increased to increase revenue to address its shortfall of KShs 2 billion to improve customer experience and operations as money from the government had been dwindling.
Tourism stakeholders have however argued that the current state of the industry could be pegged on the ongoing protests which have had a detrimental impact on what should be a peak season.
Lisa Kibutu, a Board Member of the Kenya Coast Tourism Association pointed out that Kenya was currently at a competitive disadvantage compared to Tanzania.
“Kenya has single-handedly boosted tourism for Tanzania and they’re improving their game; we are losing bookings and investments to them,” Kibutu stated on a interview with a local media house.
Mohammed Hersi, Former Chair of the Kenya Tourism Federation, also noted that media coverage on the protests had a big impact on tourist perceptions, as the violence depicted in media has had a ripple effect on the sector.
“Tourists become worried when they see disturbing headlines and images of violence from countries they want to visit. When there are clashes, tourism is the first to be affected and last to recover. Protests and tourism are incompatible because they disrupt those who visit for holidays and businesses,” Hersi explained, stressing the incompatibility of tourism and civil unrest.
Nevertheless, the stakeholders have called in the government to formulate strategies that will foster tourism development amid the unrest by prioritising the welfare of the visitors.
