By Macharia Kamau
Tourism industry's peak season has commenced, and players have enough on their plate to last them through the year, if hotel bookings are anything to go by.
The industry is, however, raising concerns over the charged political atmosphere ahead of the August 4 referendum on the proposed constitution. Industry players warn that tourists will remain edgy in the run up to the vote and confidence can only be restored if the political noise is toned down.
Mike Macharia, chief executive Kenya Association of Hotel Keepers and Caterers, says that while they are yet to cause irreparable damage, the campaigns are already sending the wrong signals to tourists.
"The bookings are very high, especially in the Maasai Mara, due to the wildebeest migration. The season may outpace last year's performance," says Macharia.
Despite the country's strong comeback from the precipice of war in 2008, the happenings are still fresh in the minds of many travellers, who remain cautious about the heat generated by the ongoing debate.
Macharia says while nothing irreparable has yet taken place, the high level of bookings might be halted by the political rhetoric that now characterise the campaigns.
The grenade attack on worshippers at Uhuru Park, which a section of the politicians blamed on Government intimidation of those opposed to the proposed constitution, has reignited the memories of 2008 post-poll violence, which saw international tourist arrivals drop.
Caused cancellations
"The market is very apprehensive of 'elections' of any sort after 2008. The Uhuru Park incident led to some cancellations. However, the industry, together with the Ministry of Tourism under the National Tourism Crisis Committee, will be meeting this week to come up with recommendations and plans for the referendum period," he said.
He adds that if the country goofs this time, it might take longer, and more resources, to get the market confident about Kenya again. Daniel Ebo Intercontinental Hotel Group's area director of sales and marketing for Africa said the industry remains positive and should all things remain constant, revenue and visitor numbers for this year might rival those of 2007, which has been dubbed the 'best year in history' of the industry.
He, however, noted that the industry is wary of the referendum and campaigns.
"The referendum is on the radar of everyone who is coming to Kenya, people still remember what happened a couple of years ago," said Ebo.
"It is definitely going to affect tourism, but that depends on how it is going to be handled," he added.
The industry is not the only one that is jittery about the campaigns and the whole political frenzy. A recent survey by TNS Research International on Kenyan consumer trends, showed that while consumer confidence among Kenyans has dropped in the three months to June, that of people from the coast had dipped significantly.
The market research firm attributed the decline in consumer confidence to the referendum campaigns, which could see tourists defer their holiday visits with the hindsight of what happened in early 2008.
"The coast is heavily reliant on tourism and residents feel that tourist numbers might go down in the coming months as result of the campaigns and also depending on how the entire process is carried out," said Melissa Baker director of research at TNS.
Source: The Standard | Online Edition
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