Tourism industry reports event cancellations due to protests – Kenyan Wall Street

Kenya’s tourism and hospitality industry players are holding their breath following recent events that led to protests across the country.

• Some industry players chose not to comment on the impact of the protests on the security-sensitive sector, while the Kenya Association of Hoteliers and Caterers (KAHC) and the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife reported some postponements of bookings, mainly for events.
• In a media interview, Kenya Hoteliers and Caterers Association CEO Mike Macharia noted that the impact of the cancellation would be huge on the industry which relies on the international market, with tourism being a key source of foreign exchange.
• While downplaying the impact of the protests on the industry, he shared the same sentiments as CS Alfred Mutua, noting that the industry has received requests for cancellation.

“We have some postponements of bookings, mainly from events, but we are also receiving new bookings. Our upward trend may have slowed down slightly, but the sector is stable and we are ready for the peak season that is underway,” said Alfred Mutua, Secretary of State for Tourism and Wildlife.

“We are fortunate that we have not suffered any major downturn or cancellation due to what is happening. However, if the instability persists, it will negatively impact the sector, leading to a reduction in our revenue, potential loss of jobs and a freeze on new opportunities, especially for graduates wishing to join the tourism and wildlife sectors to earn a living,” Mutua added.