The popular trains have been fully booked since last week, forcing travellers commuting between Nairobi and Mombasa to seek alternative transport.
Hoteliers have urged the Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) to increase the Madaraka Express train frequency to create more room for domestic tourists travelling to the Coast for leisure and business.
The popular trains have been fully booked since last week, forcing travellers commuting between Nairobi and Mombasa to seek alternative transport.
After President Uhuru Kenyatta was sworn in last week, hotels in Mombasa have been experiencing booming business with large numbers of tourists from Nairobi flocking to the region for relaxation.
Currently, occupancy stands at over 70 per cent, up from 30-40 per cent last month. Unfortunately, domestic tourists heading to Mombasa from Nairobi have been unable to get bookings as the Madaraka Express trains have been fully booked.
Last Friday, KRC managing director Atanas Maina confirmed that the trains had been fully booked. On Tuesday, Kenya Coast Tourism Association (KCTA) chairman Victor Shitakha called on the corporation to increase the train frequency to enable more tourists to visit the region.
He noted that since the Madaraka Express was introduced in June, it had boosted domestic tourism in Mombasa and Tsavo East and West national parks.
“During the low season, hotels stayed afloat thanks to the trains. The trains are popular because they are cheaper and take shorter time to arrive in Mombasa or Nairobi,” he said.
Mr Shitakha, who is also the CEO of Kenya Safari Lodges and Hotels, said hotels will no longer be empty between April and June as the trains will take leisure and business travellers to Mombasa.
