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Kenyan hoteliers eye 80 percent bookings during Easter holiday

Xinhua, March 23, 2016 Adjust font size:

Kenya's coastal hoteliers on Tuesday announced they are expecting over 80 percent bookings this Easter holiday.

Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers executive director Sam Ikwaye said the hoteliers are offering good packages to attract more visitors, mainly domestic tourists during the holiday.

Ikwaye said the hoteliers are expecting a better season compared to last year following restoration of security and subsequent lifting of travel advisories.

"We expect almost 100 percent on room occupancy on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, bed occupancy drops down to 85 percent, a clear indication of better season," he said.

Ikwaye said most of the hotels have set up attractive packages targeting mainly domestic tourists who usually flock the hotels during the celebrations.

Kenya's tourism sector has been battered by travel advisories imposed by the U.S. and Europe due to a series of terror attacks orchestrated by Somali-based terror network Al-Shabaab.

Figures released by the Kenya Tourism Board for the period between January to November 2015 indicate that air arrivals at Jomo Kenyatta and Moi international airports declined by 12.2 percent from 787,000 to 691,000 visitors.

Last year, the Kenyan coastal region was still struggling with travel advisories issued in 2014 by the Western market.

Britain lifted its advisories in June last year followed by the United States in December.

"Our main challenge now is not insecurity, but small issues such as the power outage that rocked the region on Friday and Saturday. We hope it won't happen over the celebrations," Ikwaye said.

Already police have issued terror alert during the Easter festival in coastal region and capital Nairobi.

Regional police commander Francis Wanjohi said they have set up measures following reports that Al-Shabaab are planning retaliatory attacks over recent killings of key leaders by both Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and U.S. drones.

On Sunday and Saturday, Kenyan troops killed 34 Al-Shabaab militants in two separate incidents in Somalia.

"We are aware that the Al-Shabaab militants are planning to revenge over the recent killings, but our officers are on higher alert. Intelligence indicates some fighters have sneaked into the country " said Wanjohi. Enditem