Tourism stakeholders raise concerns over heightened political tension that could reverse gains made in the sector

NAKURU,Kenya, Sep, 5 – The gains made over the last couple of years in the tourism sector should be jealously guarded according to stakeholders in the vibrant sector.

As the country approaches an electioneering year, the threat that could witness gains made in the sector become reversed appear to be nigh if government does not quickly step in to cool political temperatures.

Lake Nakuru Lodge Marketing Director Joseph Muya says that on top of the COVID-19 pandemic that broke out last year, the sector is still under threat.

“Online bookings are still unpredictable, we have become a hand to mouth business of late whatever we get we move on since you cannot be sure,” he said.

Muya further says that Kenyans  have become cautious and even afraid to a certain extent in turn opting against spending money needlessly until a full audit on what transpires after the elections is conducted.

“Nakuru is a political hotbed, and the county is among the fastest growing tourism destinations therefore any form of violence will roll back the gains,” he said.

Stakeholders are now calling on the government and in particular the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to take action against politicians sowing seeds of discord.

They are further advocating for severe consequences where if any person is found culpable of inciting violence and in turn this leads to loss of investment they should be found liable and forced to pay for incurred losses.

Meanwhile concerns have also been raised over the decision of several countries incuding the United Kingdom and the United States to issue travel advisories against their citizens from traveling to Kenya.

Though a sense of normalcy is slowly returning in the tourism sector, many are still grappling with the fact that business may coll;apse while thousands others remain unemployed.