Kenya loses over Sh500 billion after four cruise ships reroute to Tanzania over Azimio protests

Members of the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Tourism and Wildlife led by chairperson Kareke Mbiuki 

 

The continuing political situation has hurt the leisure industry, with reports of lodging withdrawals on the Coast and in some Rift Valley tourism attraction locations.

Cruise ships headed for the Mombasa harbour made a U-turn and headed for Tanzania.

The MV Seabourn Sojourn, carrying 800 passengers from Mahe, Seychelles, will now stop for six days in Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam before continuing on to South Africa.

In January, it set out on its journey from Miami, Florida. On May 27, the journey will arrive in Barcelona, Spain.

Africa was on the travel schedule. The 140-day voyage of the Seabourn Sojourn includes 12 overnight stays in 58 locations spread across 27 nations and six continents.

"We incurred significant losses. According to previous data, each traveller typically spends at least $200 (Sh26,000) per day.

"We lost $800,000 (Sh105,744,000), assuming each person paid that much over three days," according to Mr Masemo.

Hotels in Nakuru County and the Maasai Mara National Reserve are reporting losses in the millions of dollars.

The country has determined that numerous domestic and foreign visitors have changed their travel plans in advance of the Easter vacation.

According to Nicholas Murero, manager of Lilita Kepper Camp, the business dropped about 10 reservations from abroad over the previous two weeks.

According to Mr Simon Tira of Samadep Tour Camp, they have lost 14 British visitors who were scheduled to stay at their facility for two weeks.

Head of the East Africa Tour Guides and Drivers Union Felix Migoya claimed that the demonstrations were harming the region's tourist industry.

The advances the tourist industry achieved after recuperating from the impacts of the Covid-19 epidemic time, according to Mr Migoya, could be undone by the demonstrations.

James Mwangi, director of the Enashipai Hotel, reported that reservations were down more than 50% from the previous year.

The Maara MP Kareke Mbiuki-led National Assembly Ministerial Committee on Tourism and Conservation, which met with representatives of the cruise ship industry in Mombasa, claimed that Kenya had lost millions of dollars as a result of the cancellations.

Additionally, Peninah Malonza, cabinet secretary for tourism and wildlife, claimed that most foreign visitors have cancelled their travel and lodging reservations in Kenya as a result of last Monday's demonstration, which shut down commerce in the nation's capital Nairobi.

According to Mr Mbiuki, poor politics make it doubtful that the Sh1.3 billion cruise ship port will be used.

According to Mr Mbiuki, "We have gotten about four cruise ships so far, and we were anticipating another around the middle of April, but the vessel has been cancelled due to the present situation of our nation."

Unless Azimio officials end the widespread demonstrations, according to Ms Malonza, there will be significant employment losses in the lodging sector in the upcoming weeks, along with decreased tax earnings and increased economic hardship for all Kenyans.

The postponement of the cruise ship was deemed a significant setback by Pollmans Tours and Safaris Activities Director Mohammed Hersi and Kenya Association of Hotel Managers and Caterers Coast Executive Officer Sam Ikwaye.