Domestic tourism was slowly beginning to pick up. Alas, now we are battling the third wave of Covid 19. What a sector setback!!
Last year, with the outbreak of the virus, our tourism sector was arguably the most affected sector, with many tourism facilities forced to put staff on unpaid leave; others opting for layoffs; and quite a significant number shutting down their establishments altogether.
As a consequence of the increasing number of Covid infections, the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife issued the following guidelines for domestic and international travel.
- Tourists (Domestic and International) who are in different parts of Kenya and need to go back home through Nairobi have until Monday 29th March midday to be in Nairobi
- Domestic flights will cease from Monday 29th March Midday
- Tourists who are in transit into the country and are scheduled to visit offerings out of Nairobi can only do so until Monday 29th March midday, past that date they will be confined in Nairobi
- International flights will NOT be affected. All arriving passengers must adhere to all protocols including presenting a negative COVID 19 certificate acquired no more than 96 hours before the arrival into the country. However, past Monday midday they will not be able to leave or enter Nairobi as domestic flights will cease by Monday 29th March mid-day.
- Restaurants and eateries in Nairobi, Machakos, Kajiado, Kiambu and Nakuru to provide take away services only from the 27th March 2021. Eateries and Restaurants in the other 42 Counties shall continue as is, strictly adhering to MOH guidelines
- Hotels cannot serve alcohol in public spaces. Only to their in-house clients.
These directives are constantly changing and though there is not much clarity at the moment, the Laikipia Tourism Association aims to continue providing our membership with continuous updates on these directives and to help our members host both domestic as well as international tourists.
Roll Out Of The Vaccine A Silver Lining For The Tourism Sector?
Earlier this month Kenya received the first batch of 1.02 million doses of the Astra Zeneca Vaccine. This increases the hope for growth in domestic tourism. And as more countries continue their vaccination campaign, we continue to hope for a rebound in international tourism which traditionally has been a great source of revenue for the Laikipia economy.
During a recent interview with journalists, many hoteliers were optimistic about the vaccination program.
“The vaccine is expected to be a significant boost for the tourism and hospitality industry, which has been badly affected by border closures, travel restrictions, curfew and social distancing measures related to Covid-19,” PrideInn Group Managing Director Hasnain Noorani
Not sure where you can get jabbed in Laikipia or its surroundings? The Ministry of Health published a list of facilities around the country where the Covid vaccine can be accessed, now even more important during the lock-down.
The Laikipia Tourism Association remains committed to assisting its membership during this period to ensure that businesses stay afloat and that we provide the same great standards that the domestic and international travellers visiting our region have become accustomed to.
We are committed to assisting our members in the following ways.
Testing
The Association will help our members in booking and having on-site antigen, antibody and PCR tests for their staff and guests when required to ensure that safety is prioritized and to curb outbreaks in their facilities.
Marketing
The Association is working towards ensuring that members have the best chances to drive traffic to their facilities.
More recently we have worked with Mount Kenya Tv who lean more towards the central Kenya demographic.
The channel has a segment known as Uthaka Witu (Our beauty) is a relatively new show that airs on Mount Kenya Tv every Saturday for roughly 9-12 minutes.
The show and the channel are done in Kikuyu language (vernacular). The host visits various hotels, tourism establishments and destinations to try and showcase the diverse tourism activities & facilities around the country. Should any of our members be interested in this opportunity, kindly feel free to reach out.
A teaser of the Uthaka Witu segment on Mount Kenya Tv
LTA also runs promos on our social media platforms, as well as email blasts. Any establishment should feel free to share any ongoing activities, upcoming events, rates, offers and discounts at no cost.
Training
The association has been in discussions with the County department of tourism, tertiary institutions (such as Strathmore University), and state corporations, such as the Kenya Tourism Fund with efforts to carry out training for our tourism and hospitality sector, as well as a staff refresher course in an attempt to help our industry cope and recover from Covid 19 impacts.
We hope to provide more information and updates on these efforts soon.
Covid 19 compliance
Does your business or facility have a Covid 19 compliance certificate? Is the Certificate still valid? If not, reach out to the Laikipia Tourism Association and we can guide you through the application or renewal process as well as following up with TRA to ensure that this certificate is processed.
For any assistance, reach out to the association through email tourismlaikipia@laikipia.org or call us 0712891269.
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