2023-12-10 23:13:02
Tourism in East Africa booming. Expectations, at least, are high. The East African Community anticipates 14 million tourists by 2025 compared to 7.2 million in 2019 before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, and the EAC encourages countries to diversify their offer sightseeing. In Kenya alone, the tourism office has set itself the objective of receiving 5.5 million foreign tourists by 2028. But certain recent measures worry tourism professionals, such as the increase in hotel prices. entry into national parks.
« Hello, thank you, you’re welcome »… in front of the Giraffe Center where you can observe and feed the giraffes, a group of vacationers revise a few Swahili words one last time. At the time of the review, the guides thank their clients and encourage them to promote the Kenya destination. Geoffrey Okwara, one of the guides, welcomes the strategic plan aimed at increasing the number of tourists in the country. “ This is a good plan, because tourism is a very important sector for the country. The ideas are good. If only they lowered fees, nature parks weren’t too expensive, and visas or other things that attract people “. Meanwhile, entry into Kenya’s flagship national reserve will increase. “ This worries me a lot, it will be a hard blow for us, because other African countries also have tourist assets », he adds.
In front of the safari vehicle, Yves, a Frenchman established in the United States, assures that the price would not dissuade him from doing it once more. “ It was really great, an extraordinary trip, we saw all the animals and we had an extraordinary guide. »
Between attractiveness and financial concerns
But, for certain scholarships, the increase in the entrance fee to the Masai Mara might give pause. For non-residents, the ticket will increase from 80 dollars to 100 dollars in January and this is only the first step. Georges Mumba, from Perfect Safari, takes a dim view of these new prices. It is Serengeti, a large Tanzanian park adjoining the Masa Mara reserve, which wins, assures the travel agent: “ Entrance to Serengeti Park is $71. Next July, at the Masai Mara it will be 200 dollars! If a client wants to come with their family of five or six people for ten days… where are they going? They are going to the Serengeti “. Georges Mumba is not only worried regarding the attractiveness of Kenya. “ Customers booked two or three years ago. I can’t go to them and tell them the rates have gone up. So companies absorb losses. Now we’re happy if a customer for next year cancels! Because we want a new reservation to bill according to the new rates. So who advises the government? We need time. These changes are made without notice “, he said.
A publication on a social network at the end of October concerning taxes on certain goods upon entry into the country caused an outcry. The Minister of Tourism had denounced to the media “harassment” of visitors.
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