16/11/2017
Hotels bank on interest in Mount Kenya adventure tourism for growth - Hotels, lodges and camps in central region are banking on the promotion of Mount Kenya as an adventure destination to help revive tourism in the circuit.
According to Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC) Mount Kenya region chairman Edward Wangechi, tourism has taken a dive due to the repeat presidential election stand-off.
The KAHC official said hotel occupancy in Mount Kenya circuit of Murang’a, Nyeri, Laikipia, Kirinyaga, Embu, Meru, Samburu and parts of Nyandarua is currently averaging at between 10 per cent and 20 per cent.
Ranch invasions
In May, he added, tourism in Mount Kenya region was hit hard by the ranch invasions which took place in Laikipia.
After the Laikipia drawback, he said, business improved in July from an occupancy of between 20 per cent and 30 per cent to 65 per cent.
“Normally, hotels, lodges and camps in the Mount Kenya circuit depend on tourist flow from the Kenya Coast, but the numbers have dipped due to the political uncertainty,” he said.
Conferences and family packages, which they used to rely on, he added, had nosedived due to the top seat stand-off.
Due to the hard times, Mr Wangechi said hotels and lodges were struggling to stay afloat.
Mount Kenya region was in May hit hard by the ranch invasions which took place in Laikipia.