How the Covid-19 Pandemic Has Affected Travel and Tourism In Kenya

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the face of the world in what turned out to be an unforgettable year. A lot of sectors were incredibly affected by the lockdowns, especially the travel industry.

As a frequent traveller, the year 2020 was meant to be a good one. I wanted to see East Africa and was planning a number of trips. Unfortunately, the pandemic landed in Kenya in March, my birthday month. That meant that all the trips I had planned for my birthday had to be cancelled.

Like most people, I thought the pandemic was a 3-month inconvenience and we would be back to normal soon enough. Almost one year later and we’re still not able to travel as freely. The first phase was curfew followed by a lockdown on the capital. The ban on travelling outside of Nairobi in April also affected Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale counties. The ban was eventually lifted temporarily by the high court following a petition by the human rights crusader, Okiya Omtatah.

With time, curfew has become a staple of daily life, though there’s a light at the end of the tunnel with successful vaccines being developed.Minimizing physical contact has made travelling in groups difficult. The way people interact and communicate has changed drastically.

Local Travel

Restrictions in movement in Nairobi led to a rise in interest in places to visit in the city. The Nairobi National Park was a favourite among Kenyans who suddenly felt claustrophobic. It was quite the sight to see. The PSV industry suffered huge losses as the government introduced measures that included vehicles not exceeding 60% of their usual capacity because of social distancing measures. Some matatus in order to maximize profits even while observing social distancing measures had the foresight to change the entire sitting arrangement in the vehicles.

International travel

Governments and airports worldwide closed their borders and suspended international travel at the height of the pandemic, with many only gradually loosening travel restrictions months later. Kenya followed suit. This halt in both domestic and international travel led to significant losses for the aviation industry. Kenya Airways converted some of its grounded passenger planes into cargo planes in order to stay in operation.

Borders opening has seen a return of international travel, however, it is still nowhere near where it was. This may take even more time as new strains of COVID-19 are discovered around the world. There is also the question of COVID-19 vaccination certificates becoming a must-have travel necessity, even as Africa remains behind in the global vaccination drive. Right now, proof of a COVID-19 test is required to travel, with some countries being more stringent than others.

The Tourism Industry

Kenya lost more than 50% of its annual tourism earnings, with arrivals in Kenya dropping by 72% in the first ten months of the pandemic with no arrivals completely in April, May, June and July when international flights were grounded. Most hotels closed, with some closing their doors permanently. The closing of bars and restaurants as well meant that a lot of people in the tourism, hospitality and entertainment sectors were adversely affected.

The job losses and closing down of businesses was a huge blow to the industry, with over 2.5 million jobs lost. After the borders opened, there was a concerted effort to market Kenya to Kenyans.

Local hotels adjusted their prices and collaborated with airlines to give the best offers. And it worked. Domestic travel managed to keep the industry afloat, even as international travel resumes.

There is a lot to watch closely as things seemingly resume normalcy. One thing for sure though is that the travel industry suffered huge losses during the pandemic, and it may take years to recover.