Tourism players jittery over prolonged Gen Z protests

Tourism industry players in Mombasa are beginning to worry about the ongoing anti-government protests by Gen Z, saying they could cut their profits.

Another round of protests are scheduled for Tuesday.

Travellers Beach Hotel and Spa general manager Hillary Siele on Friday said so far the protests had eaten into their business, with their main clientele being from Nairobi, which has borne the brunt of the riots.

“Oh, yes! The Gen Z voice definitely affected our business. Our main source of business is Nairobi, especially the Mice market,” Siele said. Mice stands for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions.

He spoke during the launch of their new website in a rebranding move that seeks to capture a bigger chunk of the industry.

“So, because Nairobi was locked, with no movement, there was no business down in Mombasa,” Siele said.

The countrywide protests saw most of the major highways blocked by the protestors.

“We survived mainly with the oversees market and the locals in Mombasa. So, definitely it has affected our business,” he said.

He however said the changes brought by the Gen Z protests were long overdue and expressed hope that going forward, things would be much more brighter.

“We need a vibrant country, a growing economy so that business also flows our way,” he said.

Siele joined his Kilifi counterparts in questioning the rationale behind the Salaries and Remuneration Commission guidelines that limit allowances paid to civil servant to distances of 50km and above.

Enacted in August 2023, the guidelines state that daily subsistence allowances (DSA) can only be paid for distances of over 50km.

This effectively discourages civil servants in Mombasa from conducting trainings and workshops in hotels nearby, thus affecting Mice tourism.

Kilifi South Hotels and Restaurant Association chairperson and Mtwapa Country Resort general manager Michael Mwiha said the hospitality sector has faced significant challenges since the new guidelines came into force.

“We have lost businesses, employment opportunities have decreased and facilities can no longer sustain themselves," he said.

The SRC decision has not only hurt hotels but also caused a ripple effect through the supply chain, adversely affecting suppliers and local economies.

“Hotels in Nairobi cannot sustain the entire market. Government are last minute people, by the time they are booking, all hotels are full,” he said.

Hotels in Mombasa and the Coast region generally have lower rates that attract patrons from Nairobi.

“People need a quiet environment like Mombasa in order to be productive when it comes seminars and conferences.

“Nairobi and Naivasha is still their first choice but in Mombasa we are very flexible and people can work up to late in the night unlike in Nairobi because of traffic and security issues,” Siele said.

He said the government directive could not work from the consumer point of view.

“The government should just allow a free, win-win market because at the end of the day we are brothers and sisters and we cannot all be in government. That’s why we are in the private sector,” he said.