Staycationers spoilt for choice as peak season kicks off

Grace and her husband Kevin had big plans for their fifth wedding anniversary and for several months, the young couple had saved up for a weekend in Diani in the company of their closest friends.

The flight tickets had been booked months in advance and after much deliberation, the group had even settled on a cottage a few yards from the pristine Diani Beach and were just waiting to confirm the reservation.

Then COVID-19 struck and like thousands of other jet setters, the group of friends suddenly found themselves grappling with a new reality. Growing infections, physical distancing guidelines, lockdowns and curfews ushered a new normal and with an uncomfortable uncertain of just how long the confinement would last.

Today, the country as with the rest of the world is slowly emerging from the shackles of the pandemic. And although travellers cannot yet globetrot as they did two years ago, many still dream of escaping their homes, but for less distant destinations.

Travel restrictions meanwhile show no signs of going away, but as vaccination efforts gather pace and businesses slowly steer up operations to pre-pandemic levels, there is a general feeling in the air that things might just be getting back to normal.

A World Bank report released last week anticipates that Kenya’s economy is set to grow at 5 per cent this year compared to -1 per cent in 2020 and above the sub-Saharan Africa average of 3.5 per cent.

It is in this backdrop that the Magical Kenya Travel Expo 2021 was launched last week in readiness for the peak travel season that comes with a colourful array of options for travellers who’ve felt overly claustrophobic the past 18 months.

Launched at the five-star Diani Reef Beach Resort and Spa, this year’s expo marked a full-scale return to pre-pandemic glitz, with over 40 countries, 11 of them in Africa participating.

Participants, including several hotels, resorts, clubs, tour and travel agencies, collectively lauded the support received from the local tourism market that made it possible for many establishments to weather last year’s slump.

Local airlines in particular played a vital role in ensuring the sector remained vibrant by introducing new pricing strategies that specifically targeted domestic travellers looking for short, affordable packages.

Regional low-cost carrier Jambojet for instance kicked off the season by launching operations to Lamu, its fourth coastal destination after Mombasa, Malindi and Ukunda.

The route was launched on the back of its #NowTravelReady campaign and the airline now flies from Nairobi to Lamu via Mombasa four times weekly with an introductory fare of Sh7,100 one way from Nairobi to Lamu, while Mombasa to Lamu will cost travellers Sh4,600 one way.

On his part, Jambojet’s boss, Mr Karanja Ndegwa says that by partnering with various entities in the sector including the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) and the Kenya Wildlife Service(KWS) to broaden product offerings under #NowTravelReady, Jambojet is essentially focusing on the one principle that continues to make it one of the most trusted low-cost carriers regionally.

“Lamu County is undeniably one of Kenya’s top tourist destinations both for local and international travellers,” said Mr Ndegwa while launching the latest route to Lamu.

“With the ongoing LAPSSET project, we expect increased traffic into Lamu from tourists and potential investors,” he said. “We want to ease their movement with the introduction of this route.”

The Magical Kenya Travel Expo 2021 will see the industry offer domestic tourists luxurious packages that are traditionally seen as the reserve of external visitors during the peak season.