Coast hotels depend on domestic tourists to remain afloat

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Domestic tourism is increasingly becoming a key pillar of Mombasa’s hospitality industry, with hotels reporting a growing number of Kenyan travellers visiting the Coast for holidays, conferences, corporate meetings and sporting events.

The trend has helped hotels maintain business throughout the year while reducing reliance on international visitors during traditional low seasons.

Margaret Masha, Sales and Marketing Manager at Bamburi Beach Hotel, said the hospitality industry has witnessed a significant shift, with more Kenyans choosing to holiday and hold events at local destinations.

Masha said domestic visitors also support the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) sector, helping hotels remain active throughout the year.

“Instead of relying solely on the international market, there is now a large volume of domestic tourism. Nationals are coming in for corporate meetings as well as holidays, and this allows the facility to remain active throughout the year,” she explained.

Masha said major events hosted in Mombasa such as the recent Our Ocean conference have also benefited the wider tourism ecosystem, with hotels, Airbnbs and small businesses all gaining from increased visitor numbers.

She noted the benefits extend to small-scale traders and families who depend on tourism-related businesses for their livelihoods. She said her hotel has 75 per cent occupancy thanks to domestic visitors.

On Mombasa Island, the domestic market is also driving hotel occupancy with the general manager of Hotel Sapphire John Yegon reporting that local tourists account for about 70 per cent of the hotel clientele with August particularly recording strong business.

Yegon said the hotel has hosted corporate guests, conference participants and sports teams, including 14 teams that travelled to Mombasa for the Rugby Sevens tournament.

He said conferences organised by associations and Non-Governmental Organisation (NGOs) are also contributing significantly to hotel revenues.

“Improved transport connectivity, including three daily trains carrying thousands of passengers and an increase in domestic flights, has made it easier for Kenyans to visit the Coast,” he stated.

Apart from being a preferred destination for annual conferences of teachers’ associations, the Coast has also been attractive to individual schools with thousands of teachers and schoolchildren visiting the beaches and historical sites during school holidays.

For the visitors, Mombasa's beaches, culture and hospitality remain major attractions. Ms Nasarine Karimi, a teacher from Embu County, spent her holiday last week and said she was elated by Mombasa’s hospitality and attraction sites including the beaches.

“Nimefurahia kuwa Mombasa na nimeona watu wa Mombasa ni wakarimu. Nimetembea Halla Park na nimeenda Nyali Beach na huko nimeona kuko sawa sana.” (I have enjoyed the hospitality of the people and visited Halla Park and Nyali beach, which are very interesting sites,” she said.

Karimi said the experience has convinced her to return to Mombasa and bring the children she teaches for their next holiday.

“Nitatembea tena na nitaleta watoto wale mimi nafunza. Nitawaleta likizo ijayo, nitawaleta Mombasa.”

She said she had noticed significant development in Mombasa city compared with her previous visit, praising the improvements she has witnessed.

“Nilishakuja Mombasa tena, na wakati nilikuja Mombasa haikuwa imeendelea sana, lakini saa hii nimeona kazi imeendelea vizuri sana.”  (I visited Mombasa in the past but it was not developed as it is now. A lot of work has now been done and there is progress,) she said.

Ms Karimi was among many school parties and even international visitors who came to the imposing elephant tusks on Mombasa Avenue in Mombasa to take photograph to mark their holidays in the coast region.

Ms Kelly Wangare, a tourist at Bamburi Beach, said she chose Mombasa to enjoy the beach and give her daughter an opportunity to experience the Coast's culture and entertainment.

Wangare who lives in Europe, described the experience as beautiful and enjoyable, praising the weather, service and child-friendly activities.

Norah Rugendo, a Kenyan living in the United Kingdom also described her experience in Mombasa as exceptional, citing the weather, beaches and friendly environment.

The growing domestic market has provided an important lifeline for Mombasa's tourism industry, while spreading the economic benefits of tourism to transport operators, accommodation providers, traders and other businesses with many tourists riding on tuk tuks to attraction sites.

Industry players said maintaining this momentum will be critical in positioning Mombasa as a year-round destination and ensuring the city's tourism economy is not overly dependent on international visitors.

Mombasa county government and Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC) hae also prioritised domestic tourism to create year-round packages for local travellers.

KAHC Coast executive officer, Dr Sam Ikwaye, recently emphasised the need to adapt to changing tourist profiles like tuk tuk races to attract younger tourists to explore Mombasa beyond the beaches.

Ikwaye urged the government to fast-track the completion of the Ronald Ngala Utalii College in Kilifi county to expand hospitality training opportunities at the Coast. 

He also called for the liberalisation of Kenya's airspace to allow more direct international flights to the region, saying improved connectivity would boost tourist arrivals. 

He appealed to political leaders to maintain peace and avoid political tensions that could negatively affect the tourism industry as the tourist high season sets in.