Most Kenyans now planning for trips, embracing domestic tourism

Worldwide, the tourism sector was hit during the Covid-19 pandemic recording one of the lowest numbers.

According to Lemmy ole Mataiwua of Viutravel, most Kenyans are now planning for trips, both locally and internationally. 

The travelers, he says, are taking advantage of the affordability in travel services and appreciate value for money that they get. Kenyans are now competing with international clients.

“We are moving from the traditional places we are taking them to the Chalbie desert, Samburu, Kisumu. We are bringing different ways of experiencing tourism, we are taking people for educational trips to Tigoni tea estates, Mount Elgon to experience the culture, we are diversifying the product and giving Kenyans a big pool to experience from,” he said on Citizen TV Daybreak show. 

Viutravel allows travelers to plan in advance and pay in flexible ways like ‘lipa polepole and lipa later.’

“I don't meet 90 percent of our clients, they pay, travel, write their reviews without even meeting an individual from the company.  It is always good to do due diligence, background check, any professional body the company is associated with, check the reviews and use referrals,” Lemmy added. 

Joseph Githitu of Hemingways Travel noted that since the lifting of Covid restrictions traveling has skyrocketed and Kenyans are embracing domestic tourism like never before.

“Travel outside the country is expensive and controlled and that's why we are seeing a high appetite for travel and increased occupancy in hotels patronized by locals. The trend we have seen both  pre- Covid and post-Covid, globally domestic tourism picked up faster after the opening of the borders and lift of the restrictions, within a year China had already hit 100 per cent growth. The domestic tourism at the local level is still picking up and it is growing tremendously, it has hit a 100 percent in terms of 2019 numbers,” he explained.

A report from Kenya’s Ministry of Tourism says earnings from the tourism sector increased to more than $2.1 billion last year.

That’s a gigantic leap from the $1.16 billion earned in 2021, when the pandemic was holding down international travel.

According to Githitu, the government has invested heavily in upgrading roads, airports, and other transport infrastructure, making it easier for domestic travelers to explore different parts of the country.

“Having traveled domestically, I can say we are at par with international standards, people want value for money, property and food industries have improved tremendously. The country is well connected because of proper roads and infrastructure,” he said.