The Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers Coast branch executive officer Sam Ikwaye, said hotel occupancy in Mombasa, Malindi,Watamu and Diani are averaging at 80 per cent.
The annual wildebeest migration from Serengeti to Maasai Mara and the humpback whale migrations from Northern Antarctica to the Kenyan coastline have bolstered bookings.
Diani Reef Beach and Resort managing director Bobby Kamani said hotel occupancy has hit 95 per cent this month, surpassing targets.
Hotels are nearly fully booked following the onset of wildebeest and whale migration at Maasai Mara Game Reserve and Coast respectively.
The Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers Coast branch executive officer Sam Ikwaye, said hotel occupancy in Mombasa, Malindi,Watamu and Diani are averaging at 80 per cent.
The annual wildebeest migration from Serengeti to Maasai Mara and the humpback whale migrations from Northern Antarctica to the Kenyan coastline have bolstered bookings.
“The high season is looking good and it came earlier. We are having a 50 per cent share of both the domestic and international tourists. It is significant to the safari circuit as the tourist will come in for the migration then they end up on the beach,” said Mr Ikwaye.
The growth is welcome news to hoteliers who had been forced to cut jobs, slash pay and close shop following the crippling effects of several travel alerts issued in 2014 after a spate of terrorist attacks on holiday getaway towns.
Diani Reef Beach and Resort managing director Bobby Kamani said hotel occupancy has hit 95 per cent this month, surpassing targets.
“Whilst the wildebeest migration was delayed this year owing to the rains, the spillover business from visitors wanting to experience not just the bush but the beach has been great,” said Mr Kamani.
“Humpback whale migrations from Northern Antarctica to the Kenyan coastline have both had a major and positively significant effect on tourism numbers not only into the country but into Diani as well.”
The annual wildebeest migration from the Serengeti in Tanzania to the Maasai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya is one of the greatest natural spectacles, which led to it being named the eighth wonder of the world.
It is the world’s largest migration, involving more than two million animals in search of greener pastures in Kenya. It usually starts in July and ends in October.
Humpback whales migrate to Kenya tropical waters where it is safe to breed every year between July and September with Watamu attracting international and domestic visitors viewing the whales and babies which swim close to the shore and can even be seen from land.
Earnings increased to Sh119.9 billion last year on arrivals of 1.44 million tourists, down from 84.6 billion in 2015.
Hoteliers expect better earnings this year.
“We expect to see this upturn in business to continue in the last four months of 2018 as well, and continued ripple effects of the increase in number of tourists to continue into 2019,” said Mr Kamani.
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