KENYA: Tourists Flock Kenya Hotels In Readiness For Easter

Coast Hotels are optimistic of peak business during the Easter holiday that begins Friday.

Some of the establishments are already fully booked as holidaymakers trickle in to the resort town of Diani for festivities.

Hotels say local tourists from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda have boosted their Easter bookings.

Jacaranda Indian Ocean Beach Resort General Manager, Dickson Ogolla, said the hotel has 60 per cent bookings for Easter, adding that he expects the number to increase before Friday.

"We expect the bookings to increase to 80 per cent as more guests from upcountry will be trickling down for the celebrations," he said today.

Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC) Coast branch executive officer Sam Ikwaye and Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF) chairman Mohamed Hersi said operators were banking on the long weekend for increased business.

They say most hotels in the region are enjoying 70 to 80 per cent bed capacity with camps enjoying 60 per cent.

“We are doing fine. Easter has come quite early this time in March rather than April. We are looking at good occupancies although again Kenyans are very good in last minute bookings. We are optimistic the hotels will be full,” Mr Hersi said.

“Try to book a flight to Mombasa or Madaraka Express you won’t find any. That just tells you many Kenyans are travelling,” he added.

Kaskazi Beach Hotel general manager Imtyaz Ahmed Mirza echoed the sentiment, saying his hotel currently has an occupancy of 95 per cent.

Baobab Beach Resort also confirmed a 100 per cent occupancy rate, with 50 per cent of guests being locals while the rest are international visitors.

Mr Ikwaye reckons that the increased business from the region is due to marketing.

“There has been a lot of investments in terms of marketing in Kwale. Players in the sector have gone to World Travel Market and Uganda to source for tourists. They have upped their marketing budget and it is paying off,” he said.

He says quelled political temperatures and continued peace have also boosted tourist confidence.

“Many people didn’t travel in December due to the rising political temperatures. They now have a reason to take holidays and schools will also be closed. We are in the end of high season. Accessibility due to road network has really helped,” he added.

Despite the positive prospects ahead of the Easter holiday, Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala has recently blamed over-reliance on seasonal foreign tourists for loss of Kenya's competitive edge in the global market.



Tourism Observer

KENYA: Tourists Pouring In Maasai Mara National Reserve Despite Supreme Court Ruling

Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF) has endeavored to calm anxiety international visitors after the Supreme Court prolonged the electoral process last Friday.

KTF chairman Mohamed Hersi on Monday informed tour operators and travel agents based in overseas markets that Kenya remained receptive to tourists.

All is well in Kenya, and we call on holidaymakers who were planning to visit the country to come and have fun,he said.
Kenya will remain peaceful during a repeat of the presidential election to take place within 60 days.

Mr Hersi said normal life continues in Nairobi and all the tourist circuits including the national parks, game reserves and the beach resorts at the Coast.

It is still a peak season for the safari circuit as international visitors are still pouring in the Maasai Mara National Reserve for game drives and other parks across the country, said Mr Hersi who is also the chief executive at Sun Africa Hotels.

He said he expects more tourists to visit the Coast as the winter season approaches in Europe.Lodges and tented camps in the Mara have since July been busy, thanks to the wildebeest migration spectacle.

Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC) Coast branch executive officer Sam Ikwaye said hotel occupancy in Mombasa had improved following the calm enjoyed after the Supreme Court verdict.

He said hotel guest numbers had jumped to 60 per cent up from 50 per cent last month due peace in the region.At the Coast, international arrivals are on the increase following resumption of charter flights from Europe to Mombasa two months ago.

A repeat of the presidential election will not affect the industry given that the country enjoyed peace during the General Election last month.

Visitor numbers are expected to hit the 1.5 million mark by the end of this year, according to Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) officials.

Last year, international arrivals to the country rose by 16.7 per cent to 877,602 up from 752,073 in 2015.

The country also received 429,749 cross border visitors, putting the total combined arrivals during the period to 1.3 million, a 10 per cent growth from the previous year.

KTB chairman Jimi Kariuki and KTB chief executive officer Betty Radier said they are counting on international arrivals to hit their target.

Mr Kariuki attributed the tourism fortunes to a reduction of park entry fees, visa waiver for children under 16 and charter incentive programmes as well as a waiver of landing fees for Moi and Malindi international airports.

A number of international airlines have increased flights to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi and Moi International Airport in Mombasa following a surge in tourists visiting the country for holidays.

Airlines that have increased flights from Europe to Nairobi include Lufthansa and Swiss international carriers.Mr Kariuki and Ms Radier said visitors from across the globe had since July been flocking to the Masai Mara National Reserve to watch the wildebeest migration.

In the past two months, wildlife enthusiasts have been pouring into the Mara in droves to witness the migration of wildebeests from Tanzania to Kenya, Mr Kariuki said.

Charter airlines that have resumed flights from Italy to Mombasa include Neos Air, Meridiana Fly and Blue Panaroma.

A polish carrier Enter Air is also operating flights between Warsaw and Mombasa while Condor serves the Frankfurt-Munich-Mombasa route.

Hotels in the coastal resort towns are at the moment receiving more international tourists following the return of charter airlines, said Mr Kariuki.

According to Ms Radier, the industry’s growth has been bolstered by yielding markets such as the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, India and China.

The KTB chief executive attributed the growth to the government’s tourism recovery campaigns carried out locally and internationally.

In the past five years, KTB has been focusing on tourism recovery by convincing the international markets that Kenya is a safe holiday destination in a bid to overcome perceptions of insecurity, she said.

She added: Security improvement and positive image building campaigns have paid off as the international markets now have confidence in Kenya.

To increase international tourist numbers, Ms Radier said KTB would focus more on markets which yield good results.She added that the marketing agency was working towards promoting the country in new markets.

Ms Radier said this financial year, the government allocated the agency Sh2 billion, with 80 per cent of the funds to be spent on marketing activities.

We have been aggressively marketing the country in traditional markets of the United Kingdom, US, Germany, Italy and France. Our efforts are paying off, she added.

The marketing agency, she said, has also carried out tourism promotion in emerging markets of India and China, adding that tourist numbers from the two markets have been on the rise.

Last year, the US was our top market in terms of arrivals, followed by the UK, India and China. Uganda was our top market in Africa, she explained.

Apart from traditional and emerging markets from Europe and Asia, Ms Radier said KTB is also wooing more tourists from South Africa, West Africa and North Africa.

Through the Tembea Kenya campaign, we are also doing domestic tourism drives to encourage Kenyans to travel across the country for holidays, she said.

The marketing agency, she added, targets to woo more tourists from neighbouring countries of Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Ethiopia.

Since July, lodges and camps in the Mara have been receiving international visitors from the US, UK, Germany, Italy, France, Australia, Japan, China, Switzerland and Austria.

Following the calm enjoyed in the country, hotels, lodges and camps are expected to register high guest numbers between this month and December.

Kenya’s tourism industry had two positive things going for it in the last one week despite jitters over elections.

First, the decision by the Opposition Nasa to seek legal redress at the Supreme Court has significantly reduced political tension. Second, the travel advisory issued by the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) does not include Safari destinations and beach resorts at the Coast.

The FCO had on August 13 updated its travel advice against Kenya, citing protests that had erupted in a number of areas following the disputed presidential election results.

The hoteliers quickly took note of the bright spots. The key magnet for tourists: the national parks, game reserves and wildlife conservancies as well as coastal resort towns were not covered by the warning.

The hoteliers noted that the FCO warning affects part of Lamu County where the Kenya Defence Forces is currently leading an air campaign against Somali-based Al-Shabaab terrorists but excludes its islands including Manda which foreign visitors flock to.

Mr Sam Ikwaye, the Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC) Coast Branch Executive Officer, says the travel advice will not deter British holidaymakers from visiting Kenya in the remaining part of the year.

Mr Ikwaye said the UK is a key market for Kenya with tourists flocking to our beaches, parks, and wildlife conservancies.

Since security has significantly improved at the coast, the KAHC official called on operators of chartered airlines in the UK to resume flights to Mombasa to boast tourist arrivals.

Charter airlines from the UK market pulled out of the Mombasa route in 2014 over security concerns. That all tourist hotspots in the country are not affected by the UK travel advice is a major indicator that the country is safe for holidays, Mr Ikwaye said.

In Lamu, county tourism director Ali Ahmed applauded the UK for excluding Lamu and Manda islands from the travel advisory. Previously, he said, UK advisories included the Lamu archipelago impacting negatively on tourism.

Following peaceful elections, Mr Ahmed said more local and international tourists were expected to visit the archipelago.

It is worth noting that the entire Lamu County remained peaceful during and after the General Election, bringing hope to efforts by the government to revive tourism on the archipelago, he said.

Lamu is expected to receive more international tourists from the UK, France, Spain, Germany and Scandinavian countries, he said.



Tourism Observer

KENYA: Mombasa County Government Urged To Scrap Proposed Local Tourism Fund (LTF)

Tourism players have asked the Mombasa County government to scrap the proposed Local Tourism Fund (LTF) in order to spare them the headache of over-taxation.

Through the the Mombasa County Local Tourism Bill 2017, the devolved unit has proposed the establishment of LTF which will collect levies and fees from players in the industry.

The Bill proposes that revenues collected be used to develop the county's tourism sector.

However, Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC) Coast branch executive officer Sam Ikwaye said the County should delete the provision creating the Local Tourism Fund from the proposed legislation.

He said Part 4 of the Bill should be be scrapped in its entirety as it clashes with the National Tourism Act of 2011, which under Section 105 established the Tourism Fund a body mandated to collect a levy meant to finance the development of tourism products and services.

Levies collected by the Tourism Fund also go towards financing marketing of the country through the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) as well as training and capacity development activities done by the Kenya Utalii College and other students of the hospitality industry.

We are against Mombasa County government’s plan to establish a Local Tourism Fund because its mandate and roles are similar to those of the Tourism Fund, Mr Ikwaye said on Tuesday in Mombasa.

The KAHC official warned that the establishment of a similar body by Mombasa County would overburden taxpayers in the sector.

Part 4 of the bill has the potential to increase the cost of doing business as the county proposes to charge levies and fees from the local tourism businesses, he said.

Kenya Tourism Federation chairman Mohamed Hersi also called on the Hassan Joho-led government to withdraw the provision creating the body, saying players in Mombasa already contribute to the Tourism Fund.

It should be noted that tourism businesses are already overburdened by taxation. Any move by the county to impose more levies through the local tourism fund will make Mombasa a hostile business environment, he warned.

Mr Hersi, who is also the Heritage Hotels chief executive officer, called on the county's bosses to seek more funds from the national government rather than introducing new levies and fees.

When reached for comment, Mombasa County Tourism executive, Binti Omar, called on tourism stakeholders to present their views at a public participation meeting to be held soon.

“The County Local Tourism Bill is still open to public participation. Therefore, I call on the private sector to present their opinions and the County will find ways of addressing the matter,” she said.


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KENYA: Government To Provide $1 million For Marketing And Developing Mombasa, Diani, Malindi, Watamu And Lamu

Kenya’s Tourism Cabinet Secretary, Najib Balala, says the government will earmark Ksh100 million,just under $1 million for marketing and developing the beach product at the Kenya coast.

It comes after the region has been hit by low international visitor numbers in the wake of the low tourist season and the uncertainty over the upcoming August 8 General Election.

Balala made the announcement in a recent North Coast tourism stakeholders’ meeting.

During the meeting, stakeholders, who included the Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers chairman, Jaideep Vohra, discussed how to improve the coastal destination in a bid to attract more holidaymakers.

In the deliberations, tourism players resolved that a Tourism Management Company be established to market the Kenya coast in both local and international markets to drive tourist arrivals.

It was also agreed that the company to be charged with the responsibility of improving the beach product in five cluster zones: Mombasa, Diani, Malindi, Watamu and Lamu archipelago.

Balala noted that the Ksh100 million would help finance the new initiative in the initial stages, but for sustainability, the company would have to be financed by the concerned tourism stakeholders.

In future, the beneficiaries of the beach product’s marketing and development will be required to finance the tourism management company’s operations and calendar of events, he said.

The tourism stakeholders agreed to form the tourism management company before the end of June.

Meanwhile, the Fundimvelo Thula Thula Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, created for the rescue, care and protection of wildlife, conservation, education and community involvement, has opened as a joint venture between Thula Thula Private Game Reserve, the local Fundimvelo Community Conservation Trust and international animal welfare organisation, Four Paws.

The rehabilitation centre, previously known as the Thula Thula Rhino Orphanage, closed February, 21

The new facility will fall under the management of Thula Thula game reserve’s staff.

MD of Thula Thula game reserve, Francoise Malby Anthony says: “We are honoured to have the five Amakhosi from the Fundimvelo Conservation Community Trust as our partners as land owners of the Fundimvelo reserve in this new venture, which will allow us to carry on the legacy started by my late husband Lawrence Anthony in matters of community involvement.

We are truly privileged to be in partnership with the animal welfare organisation Four Paws, whose commitment to the protection of wildlife at an international level is renowned.”

Country Director of Four Paw South Africa Fiona Miles says: We are delighted to continue our relationship and develop together with Thula Thula and the local Fundimvelo community.

We want to see a true change in the hearts and minds of people for the protection of wildlife and care of animals

Due to the increasing threat to wildlife on an international scale, security at the rehabilitation centre is the primary focus.

There will be a professional team of animal caretakers, tasked with the caring for the daily needs of wounded or orphaned animals at the centre, under the guidance of local wildlife veterinarians.

KENYA: Culinary Tourism In Kenya

There is a new trend of tourists visiting historic or beach sites but end up engaging in culinary tourism activities.

Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC) observes that culinary tourism creates strong brand awareness and potential loyalties.

KAHC Coast branch Executive officer, Sam Ikwaye says, for instance, many Kenyans touring the Coast will always want to visit particular restaurants for local dishes like biriani and pilau.

Majority of Kenyans traveling upcountry also make stopovers at Kikopey for the delicious nyama choma, explains Mr Ikwaye. Culinary tourism can also mean specific food rituals and customs.

This can be packaged through cultural tourism, for instance, the Kalenjin mursik and the specific tree from which the charcoal flavour is infused. This can be well packaged for tourists visiting to acquire running tips and link the milk to great performance of our athletes.

In short through culinary tourism, we have a great opportunity to think globally while acting locally, Ikwaye says. Ikwaye observes that almost 100 per cent of tourists dine out when traveling and this is constantly one of the top three fantastic activities that tourists engage in.

Kenyan cuisine, Local cuisine is the priority motivating factor in choosing a destination with a bigger budget going towards food related activities, he said.

This ranges from gastronomic routes where tour operators arrange travel itineraries alongside food experiences, food and drink festivals, gourmet and luxury food travel which is made up of a small but very high spending niche.

Veteran Serena Beach Resort & Spa, Executive Chef Ali Khan Jamal notes that the Coastal Kenya is famous for its signature sea food cuisine owing to its proximity to the Indian Ocean.

At the Serena, we are synonymous with mainly Swahili and Kenyan cuisine and over time have perfected our art of food preparation, presentation to loyal clientele who have been frequenting our resort, Chef Jamal said in an interview.

Kenya Tourism Board has been spearheading the promotion of culinary tourism when it launched the Chefs Delight Award. Kenya’ culinary tourism segment is gaining momentum.

KTB anticipates that the new tourism portfolio is set to put Kenya in a global map and among the countries known for their local cuisine such as India, China and Thailand.

Yes Chefs Delight Awards™ Winners are making the Global Headlines again.

Illustrious Chef Extraordinaire Tim Freeman who was named one of Kenya’s Most Innovative Chefs in the 1st chapter of the Chefs Delight Awards™ Kenya (and also led Brew Bistro and Lounge’s kitchen teams to victory, where the restaurant won *Best Bar Bistro Restaurant* & *Best Individual Fine Dining Restaurant* as voted for by their diners), beat Celebrity Iron Chef & Master Chef Bobby Flay on Food Network!!

This is why the Go Places teams highly-recommends 'wine & dine experiences' at our partners Brew Bistro and Lounge & the newly opened Brew Bistro and Lounge Rooftop in Westlands (Fortis Towers, Woodvale Grove), which quite literally puts great emphasis on creating a deliciously inspired menu that will keep you and your guests asking for more & more.

The announcement came at a viewing party for the TV debut of an episode of ‘Beat Bobby Flay’ the cooking competition show, which featured Tim taking on and defeating the most famous Iron Chef of them all, as well as, former Boston Red Sox Executive Chef Steve Postal.

Our heartiest congratulations goes out to Chef Tim Freeman and his family, on this truly magnificent achievement and wish him success at his new position in Denver, USA.

The Go Places™ & Chefs Delight Awards™ Teams are proud to show you this video which was showcased on Korean TV of our highly-recommended dining partner Haru Japanese Restaurant, Karen, Nairobi and the man behind it all – Culinary Extraordinaire, Chef & Owner J.H. Park….

When international media take notice of our Chefs Delight Awards™ winners you know you are truly dining in one of Kenya’s very best!!!

Haru Japanese Restaurant, Karen, Nairobi was the overall WINNER as voted by their *own diners / paying customers* as the 'Best Individual Restaurant & Chef Team' as well as the 'Best Authentic Japanese Restaurant' in the country, in the highly coveted and internationally recognized Chefs Delight Awards™ (1st Chapter), under the stewardship of the world-renowned Chef J.H. Park.

If you love Sushi, Sashimi and Authentic Japanese Culinary treats (or you don't), Haru is the only restaurant in Kenya famed for taking its diners through a culinary journey in the 'land of the rising sun'; which ultimately leads to ‘every diner’, even the most discerning ones, literally craving, asking and yearning for more.

Keep locked to this page, the next post you will see on Haru Restaurant will be a personal interview with the man behind it all Chef & Owner J.H. Park.

KENYA: Tourism Industry Banking On Conference Tourism And Domestic Tourists

The tourism industry is now banking on conferences and domestic tourists to promote the sector after the end of the festive season.

Hotels in Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi and Lamu counties cashed in on roaring business as many Kenyans flocked to the region for Christmas and New Year's Day.

A majority of the tourists were locals from Nairobi, Nakuru, Eldoret and Kisumu.

Sam Ikwaye, the Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers's (KAHC) Coast branch executive officer, said some hotels were fully booked during the periods.

He said most of them had occupancy rates of between 70 and 80 per cent over Christmas and New Year's Day compared with 40-50 per cent in 2015.

"We must appreciate that domestic tourism boosted hotel guest numbers during the festive season as international visitors were very few," he said.

Mr Ikwaye said that now businesses are relying on conference tourism to stay afloat.

"At the moment, international guest numbers are below 10 per cent and therefore the hotels across the region pin their hopes on conferences and locals to remain in business," he explained.

In Kilifi County, Philip Chai, the KAHC branch chairman for Malindi and Watamu, said 70 per cent of guests were locals.

Mr Chai said business was slowing down after the end of the holiday festivities.

He urged industry players to promote domestic and conference tourism.

"In recent years, we have been experiencing a low number of tourists from the Italian market.

"Time has come for tourism players to find ways of attracting locals to uplift the industry," he said.

Sai Rock Hotel General Manager Robert Kiri said bookings are expected to be boosted by conferences organised by the national and county governments and non-governmental organisations.

KENYA: Mombasa Tourism Board To Enhance Tourism In Mombasa

The Kenya Tourism Board yesterday welcomed plans by the county government to set up the Mombasa Tourism Board.

The administration announced it wants to set up a local tourism marketing agency to complement the national government’s KTB.

Several weeks ago, during a tourism stakeholders meeting with the county government, Governor Hassan Joho said he will push for an executive bill through the county assembly to establish the board.

Kenya Tourism Board chairperson Jimi Kariuki yesterday said the Coast has world-class sandy beaches, making it one of Kenya’s flagship tourism products.

“Marketing the Coast tourism product from a national and local level will further support the acceleration of the region’s tourism recovery,” Kariuki said.

The Kenya Tourism Board yesterday welcomed plans by the county government to set up the Mombasa Tourism Board.

The administration announced it wants to set up a local tourism marketing agency to complement the national government’s KTB.

Several weeks ago, during a tourism stakeholders meeting with the county government, Governor Hassan Joho said he will push for an executive bill through the county assembly to establish the board.

Kenya Tourism Board chairperson Jimi Kariuki yesterday said the Coast has world-class sandy beaches, making it one of Kenya’s flagship tourism products.

“Marketing the Coast tourism product from a national and local level will further support the acceleration of the region’s tourism recovery,” Kariuki said.

In a statement to media houses, Kariuki said infrastructural improvements within and around the key coastal tourism towns are essential to support the sector and attract tourists.

He said this will enable the KTB to deliver its marketing mandate.

He said the concept of having a national tourism marketing agency and a local or regional board is a practice in several top tourism destinations in the world.

France, Spain, Italy, Britain, USA, Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand all have this concept in place. Kenya Coast Tourists Association chairman Mohammed Hersi and Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers Coast executive director Sam Ikwaye have supported the move.

KENYA: More Airlines To Fly Tourists To Coast

New airlines set to bring tourists to Coast A number of airlines from Arab states have shown interest in flying to Mombasa, tourism officials have revealed.

Heritage Group of Hotels CEO Mohamed Hersi said yesterday that already, low-cost carrier Fly Dubai has received a licence to start flights to Mombasa. “This news cannot have come at a more opportune time than this when Kenyan tourism is in the recovery phase.
We hope to see traffic loads from the potential rich Gulf region with flights operated by Fly Dubai,” Mr Hersi said.

He was addressing a tourism consultative forum organised by Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC), Coast branch, at the Voyager Beach Resort and Spa.

Hersi said other airlines that could begin flying to Mombasa included award winning Emirates Airlines whose top managers were in Mombasa recently at the invitation of Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, and Air Arabia. “We will not sit pretty but will continue lobbying for more scheduled flights to touch down in Mombasa as we seek to grow our tourism numbers,” said Hersi, who is also the chairman of Kenya Coast Tourist Association.

KENYA: Boost For Tourism And More Facilities Set Up

The establishment of two beach resorts in Mombasa County has been cited as good tidings for the troubled tourism industry.

Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC) said that the opening of Pride Inn Paradise Beach Resort & Convention Centre and Sun Africa Beach Resort is refreshing boost to the industry.

“It is refreshing to see local investors adding to the existing touristic facilities,” KAHC Coast Branch Executive officer, Mr Sam Ikwaye said. He added that in the past, the Coast region has experienced more hotel closures and change of entities than new investments.

“We salute the investors for their timely action and this is a clear sign of confidence,” he said.Ikwaye said that conference tourism is emerging and there is need for adequate infrastructure to support the projected growth.

Pride Inn Paradise Beach Resort & Convention Centre General Manager, Mr Imtyaz Mirza said the opening of the resort has filled the long-awaited gap in beach tourism.

“We salute the investors for their timely action and this is a clear sign of confidence,” he said.Ikwaye said that conference tourism is emerging and there is need for adequate infrastructure to support the projected growth.

Pride Inn Paradise Beach Resort & Convention Centre General Manager, Mr Imtyaz Mirza said the opening of the resort has filled the long-awaited gap in beach tourism.

KENYA: KPA To Build Cruise Ship Terminal At Mombasa Port

Dancers welcome cruise ship MS Nautica when it docked at the Port of Mombasa on November 13, 2015. KPA plans to build a Sh100 million terminal for welcoming tourists on cruise ships.

The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) will spend Sh100 million to construct a terminal for welcoming tourists on cruise ships at the port of Mombasa.

The port lacks a cruise facility for hosting holidaymakers when they arrive in Mombasa by sea.

The port captured headlines in June when the World Travel Awards voted it as Africa’s best cruise port.

Five years ago, it attracted over 10,000 cruise tourists per year before the number took a plunge due to pirate attacks in Somalia territorial waters.

Only two cruise ships docked at the port in 2014 with 900 passengers.

KPA principal communications officer Haji Masemo said construction works will start in 2016.

Mr Masemo stressed the need for the terminal following an increase in the number of tourists to more than 1,800 this year from 900 in 2014.

He also noted the number of cruise ship visits increased from two in 2014 to three this month.

Another ship is expected before the end of November.

“Following a decline in pirate attacks, thanks to the efforts of the Kenya Defence Forces and naval forces of the international community, cruise ships are now coming back to Mombasa,” Mr Masemo said.

He added: “That is why it is necessary for the port to have a terminal where tourists can rest on arrival or before departure.”

Mr Masemo said the port which is a member of the Cruise Indian Ocean Association is capitalising on the organisation to woo back more cruise ships and holidaymakers.

Last week, MS Nautica arrived at the port with 684 tourists and 386 crew members bringing hope for the revival of the ailing sector.

Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers Coast executive officer Sam Ikwaye said it is important for the port to have the facility to improve services offered to cruise tourists.

He noted that improvement of facilities would help attract more tourists.

“Months ago, the port was recognised as the best and therefore it should have a world-class terminal where tourists can relax,” he said.

He added: “KPA should take advantage of the accolade to attract more cruise ships to Mombasa and help revive the tourism sector.”

Kenya Tourism Board boss Muriithi Ndegwa termed the decision by the US and UK governments to lift of the travel advisories against Mombasa as a major boost to tourism.

“Cruise tourism benefits the industry more since sea travellers are big spenders,” said Mr Muriithi.

The KTB boss added that Mombasa is expected to attract more cruise ships since security had significantly improved in the region.

He explained that KTB would market the destination in international cruise tourism markets to woo back more holidaymakers.

“When the cruise tourists arrive in Mombasa, they go on safari to the national parks as well as visit cultural and historical sites,” he explained.

KENYA: Hotel Staff Get Salary Increase

The salaries of hotel workers have been increased by nine per cent beginning this month.

This comes after a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) was reached between the Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers and the Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers last month.

The union’s Mombasa and Kwale branch secretary, Mr Zack Osore, said the nine per cent deal applies to both salaries and house allowances and was registered in the Employment and Labour Relations Court last month.

Hotels in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu are required to pay a monthly minimum entry salary of Sh18,045, up from Sh16,278. They will also pay a minimum house allowance of Sh7,091 a month, up from Sh6,500.

Hotels in other counties like Kilifi and Kwale will pay a minimum entry salary of Sh16,520, up from Sh14,912.

Mr Osore said the pay increases are not negotiable and became effective on September 1.

“Employers who fail to implement the increments will face industrial action,” the trade unionist warned.

At the same time, Mr Osore urged hotel owners to clear salary arrears amounting to millions of shillings.

“Hundreds of employees have been kicked out of their houses for non-payment of rent,” he said.

Mr Osore said the union had appealed to headteachers not to send home the children of hotel workers.

He said the union, which had more than 20,000 members at the Coast, lost more than 10,000 members, who were laid off due to the tourism downturn last year.

KENYA: Ferry Crisis Hurting Tourism

The ferry crisis at the Likoni channel has dealt a blow to tourism in Diani.

The ferry crisis at the Likoni channel has dealt a blow to tourism in Diani.

According to Kenya Association of Tour Operators Coast branch Chairperson Monika Solanki, some tourists in the resort town have missed their flights after being delayed at the crossing for hours.

She said since last Friday, tourists in Diani have been facing difficulties in reaching the Moi International Airport in time for their flights home.

Ms Solanki said the visitors faced delays of between two and three hours.

The official said international tourists heading to Diani for holidays are being frustrated by the frequent delays at the channel.

“After the just concluded Magical Kenya Travel Expo, many tourists were interested in going to Diani for leisure,” she Ms Solanki.

“Sadly, the ferry crisis is making both local and international visitors avoid travelling to the South Coast due to the delay nightmare,” she said.

Ms Solanki said the delays at the channel have also adversely affected safaris to Shimba Hills Game Reserve.

She said wildlife enthusiasts heading for game drives lose precious hours of watching animals after being held up at the crossing for hours.

ECONOMY AFFECTED
Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers Coast Chief Executive Officer Sam Ikwaye said the transport crisis at Likoni is a setback to Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (Mice) tourism in Diani.

He said the delays are slowing down both the government’s and the private sector’s efforts to revive the tourism industry in the South Coast.

“The government spent a lot of money in bringing international tour operators and travel agents to Diani during the recent travel show,” he said.

Mr Ikwaye said conference organisers are avoiding Diani because of transport woes at the Likoni crossing.

Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mombasa Chief Executive officer James Kitavi said the ferry crisis had affected economic activities in the South Coast.

When reached for comment, the ferry boss, Mr Musa Hassan Musa said the ferries are worn out.