Kenya’s tourism sector thrives despite protests as high bookings reported

Nairobi — Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Dr Alfred Mutua has confirmed that the sector is recording high levels of bookings despite the ongoing protests across the country over the budget proposals.

Mutua said new bookings had increased, with only a few postponements, mostly for special events.

He stressed that the sector remains stable and ready for the peak season, assuring that the government will implement measures and policies to increase safety, which will stimulate economic growth.

“Based on information gathered from our stakeholders, our growth trends may have slowed down slightly, but we are fortunate that we have not experienced a significant decline or cancellation of orders due to the current situation,” he said.

The protests, which have severely disrupted various parts of the country, were initially sparked by public disapproval of the Finance Bill 2024. As of July 3, 2024, more than 40 people have died.

The bill included tax increases that many Kenyans found burdensome.

Despite President William Ruto’s decision to withdraw the bill and send it back to parliament, demonstrations have continued, leading to clashes between protesters and security forces. The incidents have raised concerns about the potential impact on the tourism sector, a vital part of Kenya’s economy.

Mutua warned that the youth-led demonstrations could negatively impact the sector, leading to a decline in domestic revenues and job losses, particularly affecting graduates seeking to work in the tourism and wildlife conservation sectors.

“The tourism and wildlife sector is one of the largest employers in our country, with 80 per cent of the workforce being young people. Disruption in the sector is leading to job losses and holding back new employment opportunities,” he said.

The tourism sector contributed 353 billion shillings to the country’s economy in 2023, with ambitions of generating 700 billion shillings annually in the future. The sector also aims to attract 3 million visitors this year, up from 2 million visitors at the end of 2023.

“Our forecast is to reach 3 million visitors by the end of 2024 and 5 million visitors in the next 2-3 years. The increase in visitors means more revenue for the country, many new jobs, especially for our youth, and an increase in business,” Mutua added.