The heavy rains that have pounded the country in the past weeks causing floods have not had a major impact on Kenya's tourism industry so far, Tourism and Wildlife CS Alfred Mutua has said.
This is despite the rains causing floods in different parts of the country with more than 250 deaths reported, as of last week, with dozens still missing.
In the hotel and tourism industry, renowned Safari destination-Maasai Mara National Reserve, has been hard hit.
At least 12 tented camps and lodges in the Mara were a fortnight ago destroyed, with facilities being washed away after the Mara and Talek rivers broke their banks.
Some of those affected include JW Marriot Masai Mara Lodge, Mara Leisure, Mara Sweet Acacia, Crocodile Camp, Pride Inn-Azure Lodge and Base Camp, with closures led to workers being temporarily sent home. The floods have also killed an unknown number of wildlife in the vast Mara.
According to industry players, there have also been cancellations by international travellers but the numbers remain low.
“There are those that are saying let’s wait and see how things turn out especially Maasai Mara bookings but the numbers are insignificant,” a manager at one of the leading camps, who spoke to the Star on condition of anonymity, told the Star.
While he acknowledged that the floods have had an impact in Mara, CS Mutua said it has been minimal so far and has not had a major impact in the country’s tourism sector.
“Affected camps were at least 10 but operations in most facilities have continued with visitors continuing with their stay. We have not had many cancellations by the international markets,” Mutua said.
He spoke during a forum by Australian sustainable tourism company- Intrepid, which has announced expansion plans in Kenya and the East Africa region.
It is estimated that there are over 150 camps and lodges located in Masai Mara National Reserve and the various conservancies neighboring the reserve.
Masai Mara National Reserve sits on 1,510 square kilometres of land and is the top visited destination in Kenya.
Facilities in other major national parks, including Amboseli and Tsavo, have not been impacted by the heavy rains, the ministry confirmed.
Safari remains among Kenya’s tourism selling points where in 2022, visitor numbers to KWS installments (both domestic and international), grew to 2.2 million, up 913, 052, as the tourism industry rebounded.
“ The floods have not had a much impact soo it is about the recovery, the good thing is that the camps that have been set up for example in Maasai Mara, they all have insurance and we are working closely with them to return to business,” Mutua said.
The Kenya Association of Hotel Keepers and Caterers (KAHC) has also confirmed there has not been a major impact on the hotel industry apart from Maasai Mara.
“There was a slight disruption of business along Talek River last week but all is well. Business is going on as usual,” KAHC chief executive Mike Macharia told the Star.
Tour operators have also reported continued business after disruptions two weeks ago.
At the start of the flooding, Mara was disrupted heavily due to bridges being washed away, Kenya Association of Tour Operators (KATO) said.
“But due to the fact that we are in our green season traffic to the Mara is low so the effect to the industry in general was actually minimal. Secondly the county government of Narok and the park officials did spring into action immediately to fix the bridges to ensure normalcy,” KATO chairman Fred Odek told the Star.
“On the highways, KeNHA (Kenya National Highways Authority) are doing a good job on quick repairs and removal of any blockages on the roads so the tourism circuits are all open and accessible to tourists country wide,” Odek added.
At the Coast, Kenya’s leading beach destination, business remains stable.
The Kenya Coast tourism circuit experienced very minimal effect from flooding, sector players have said.
According to the Kenya Coast Tourist Association (KCTA), the major issue was the cyclone alert which resulted to some cancellation.
Cyclone Hidaya however never hit the Kenyan Coast as it had been predicted, even as it affected neighbouring Tanzania where it swept the coastline.
“The floods have really caused a lot of havoc on livelihoods, as tourism stakeholders we send our sympathies to all families affected by this disaster. We also wish to commend Massai Mara circuit hotel managers for coordinated approach in managing the flooding disaster, despite damaged properties no life was lost,” KCTA chief executive Julius Owino said.
He called for a strong national legislation on disaster management and mitigation, while challenging counties to “up their game” in disaster response and mitigation.
The Mount Kenya and Western tourism circuits have not reported any effects of flooding, save for changes in itineraries over rains.
In Nairobi, a key Meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions tourism (MICE tourism) hub, business has continued as usual despite the city reporting some of the worst flooding cases.
Some of the major conferences last week were the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit and the China-Africa Economic, Trade Expo.
Meanwhile, the Tourism Ministry continues to diversify tourism offerings in the country, CS Mutua said, noting that strategic diversification of tourism products and development of tourism facilities and experiences is enhancing Kenya's appeal in the global travel marketplace.
Kenya plans to more than double international tourist arrival in the next five years, as it banks on more products in addition to the traditional Safari and Beach.
Kenya Tourism Board is seeking to grow arrivals into the country to 5.5 million by 2028, in an ambitious plan that involves the private sector.