Kenya’s tourism industry is experiencing a notable decline in international arrivals from last year to now, as shown in data released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS).
Calvin Cottar, owner of Cottar’s 1920 Safaris Camp in Kenya, says they have experienced a drop in occupancy as a result of travel advisories following tourist assaults, and the more recent Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
According to KNBS, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport had a 12,2% decline in the first half of the year’s foreign passenger arrivals. Foreign arrivals dropped to 358 977 in the six months to June, down from 409 130 in the same period last year.
Devan Jobanputra from Travel in Style in Kenya said inbound business has reduced significantly as a result of the unfortunate security incidents earlier in the year.
“Apart from security incidents, the cost of a safari / beach holiday has also gone up due to introduction of VAT last year.
“Foreign tour operators in the UK and US have actually removed Kenya from their brochures and product offering. We’re hoping that the general security situation improves in the whole region and we’re able to market the destination better. We’re also hoping that we get a waiver on VAT sooner rather than later.”
Juan Nel from Africa Stay said there had been a slight decrease in interest from the South African market. He said it was more likely that the decrease was because of the recent ‘visa scare’ and fluctuating exchange rates.
Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) has confirmed that the postponement of implementing visa requirements has been extended until further notice.
Calvin said, sadly, prospective clients from the US, UK and Europe didn't understand that terrorism was just as likely to happen in their own countries as it was in Kenya and that Europe was far closer than East Africa to Ebola-affected countries in West Africa.
Last month, tour operator Roy Davies, of World Discovery told eTNW that demand for travel to Kenya had dropped considerably because of the negative media coverage as well as a warning from the UK FCO. He said tour operators in the UK had stopped selling the Kenyan coast because they weren’t prepared to take any risks.
According to the KTB, government will make a formal announcement at the end of September, addressing all questions around the decrease in arrivals.
To see the report from KNBS click here.
