Nairobi Expressway project will boost tourism industry: Noorani

The hospitality industry players are optimistic about the future as they expect more conferences to be hosted in Nairobi once the expressway is complete.

The hospitality industry has been touted as one of the major beneficiaries of the Ksh. 62.2billion Nairobi Expressway project which is expected to reduce travel time to and from Jomo Kenyatta International airport and Syokimau SGR station.

PrideInn Hotels MD Hasnain Noorani said the road will be a big boost to the industry considering the reduced travel time and easy connectivity.

“The Expressway will reduce the time spent in traffic and make Nairobi an exciting place for local and international conferences and tourists. This will complete the business and leisure cycle since they will have the chance to enjoy Nairobi’s cultural, leisure and wildlife products,” he said.

“The road, linking JKIA to city’s tourism hub will avail a more faster transport option to both local and international tourists yearning for leisure and conferences in Nairobi,” added Noorani.

Road infrastructure and tourism represent positive implications for mutual relations and constraints. Today, the impacts of road infrastructure on tourism are more visible than ever before.

“When the pandemic halted tourism completely an year ago, its recovery and continuous development relies on the development of appropriate infrastructure, which services the needs of tourists and encourages investment in the sector. Upon completion of Nairobi Express Way, we foresee hospitality segments such as accommodation, restaurants, built-up attractions, tours and transport boom,” said Noorani.

Road and transport infrastructure in a country attracts tourists and can promote tourism destinations. A positive relationship between road infrastructure and tourist activities, which increases the flow of tourism development. Decongesting roads will significantly increase the volume of tourists in Nairobi.

“Road infrastructure is absolutely important for the dispersal of tourists and conference delegates beyond major gateways. If we want to continue to grow tourism and in particular conference tourism in Nairobi, road infrastructure is one area that needs continuous improvement. Hopefully, with current ongoing construction of Expressway, movement from the airport to the city centre will be made easy,” said Noorani

“Such amenities will contribute towards making Nairobi’s tourism products enjoyable, reliable, and sustainable. This road will provide a first critical impression of Nairobi as a destination. It shall also improve inland mobility and experience,” said Farzana Zahir, PrideInn Group Sales & Marketing Director.

Two years ago, the Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority ranked Nairobi as the fourth most congested city in the world.

The time wasted in these traffic jams bleeds the city Ksh. 100 billion every year.

A different study by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) showed that Kenya loses over Ksh. 50 million daily in traffic jams.

An amount that results in Ksh. 18.25 billion loss annually.