NAIROBI: The number of tourists who visited Kenya in the first half of this year went down nearly 20 percent, according to the country’s tourism regulator.
Kenya received 347,398 tourists through Jomo Kenyatta and Moi international airports during the first half of this year, down from 428,223 during the same period last year, new figures from Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) showed Friday.
The two airports account for over 80 percent of tourists, with the others coming through the country’s border points and cruise ships, according to KTB, which has been spearheading several campaigns outside Kenya to lure guests.
Tourism is a major foreign exchange earner for Kenya, which has famed serene beaches that charm many western tourists.
However, a three-year decline in tourist arrivals has seen thousands lose jobs, with the local currency declining to a three-year low.
Earnings from tourism last year went down to 861 million U.S. dollars from 1.35 million tourist arrivals, down from 970 million dollars from 1.52 million.
During the first half of the year, Kenya witnessed a spate of terrorist attacks perpetuated by the Somali militant group the Al-Shabaab, with the worst happening at Garissa University, where 14 people, including students, were killed.
The attacks resulted into renewal of travel advisories by western nations including U.S. and Britain. Britain in March informed its citizens to keep off resorts and the main airport at the Kenyan coast.
Australia too, during the period, warned its nationals to avoid the region and some parts of Nairobi, dealing a blow to Kenya’s battered tourism sector.
While the Kenya government protested, noting it had tightened security, the withdrawals and the travel advisories led to closure of hotels in the country’s coast, causing massive job losses.
About 28,000 people have lost their jobs due the shut of hotels, according to the Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Hospitals and Allied Workers. But the impact of the low number of tourists is beyond closure of hotels and job losses.
Kenya Airways, the country’s national carrier, announced on Thursday a massive loss of 252 million dollars in annual net loss, blaming it partially on the slump in tourism sector.
However, all is not lost for Kenya as the country is carrying out several campaigns in Europe, America and Asia to revive the sector.
The country participated in the Milan Tourism Expo last month where it showcased various attractions, according to Cabinet Secretary Phyllis Kandie.
Last week, the country hosted the Global Entrepreneurship Summit that saw top investors from across the world and US President Barack Obama visit the country, a move that helped to show Kenya is safe.
In the financial year 2015/2016, National Treasury also set aside 52 million dollars to help in recovery efforts.
