Counties

Coast hotels cash in on Jamhuri Day celebrations, festivals

odit

Kimari dancers at Jamhuri Day Celebrations at Tononoka Grounds in Mombasa on December 12, 2017. Photo | Kevin Odit | NMG

Tourism at the Coast got a boost from Jamhuri Day celebrations Tuesday amid a festive peak season that has brought a large number of locals to the region for the holidays.

Domestic tourism has bolstered the hospitality industry as many Kenyans flock to the coast for the ongoing Diani Beach festival, Maulidi Festival and wedding parties.

Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort general manager Siddharth Sathe says that the hotel was full with some guests having come to Mombasa to celebrate Jamhuri Day.

“Domestic tourism has uplifted guest numbers in Mombasa. Our hotel has 90 per cent local holidaymakers while the rest are tourists from Europe and Asia,” he added.

Mr Sathe said the hotel will be busy during Christmas and New Year following a rise in bookings in the festive season.

Kenya Tourism Federation chairman Mohamed Hersi said Nairobians have boosted the sector with some enjoying the school break with their families as others come to party and attend the colourful Diani festival.

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In Lamu, he said, hotels have been kept busy by the Maulidi festival which has attracted Muslims from Kenya, Uganda, Zanzibar and Tanzania.

The celebrations, which last about four days, mark the birth of Prophet Mohamed.

“After the long electioneering period ended, Kenyans are coming to the Coast in droves for relaxation, for celebrations as well as to participate in festivals,” he said.

Weddings

Meanwhile in Watamu, Garoda Beach Resort resident manager Daniel Mwita said the facility had been kept busy by weddings.

From December 20, he added that the hotel will be packed to capacity with majority of holidaymakers coming from Italy.

“Between October and November, we closed down the hotel owing to low business. We reopened the establishment on December 1, and guest numbers are on the rise. Bookings from the Italian market are on an upward trend because of winter,” he added.

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