Tourists from the US and Europe are increasingly flocking to Kenya for their summer holidays, seeking refuge from the heatwaves currently affecting their continents.
Despite the political unrest in the country, tourists seem to be increasingly captivated by Kenya's scenic wildlife and favorable weather, choosing to overlook the protests being staged across the country.
This fascination has led to a significant increase in tourist influx, thereby boosting tourism activities at various attractions and providing a much-needed economic boost to the sector.
The ongoing wildebeest migration from Serengeti to Maasai Mara has given Kenya’s tourism a big boost in revenue. The migration is considered historical as millions of wildebeests move from Tanzania to Kenya.
The tourists are escaping the high temperatures that have intensified across Europe, Asia and the US to experience warm weather in Kenya.
A report by the European Travel Commission shows that 7.6 per cent of travellers in Europe see extreme weather conditions as a major reason for holiday travels between June and November.
Most of these tourists are picking Africa as their destination with Kenya being the preferred option for most of them.
The cooler weather in Kenya proves to be highly favourable for tourists, especially since the extreme temperatures in their own continents are causing a cascade of illnesses such as heat cramps, hyperthermia, and heat stroke.
At face value, touring Kenya at a time when 3-day protests are in progress may appear like a bad decision. However, tourists have concrete reasons to visit and most of them have taken extra measures to guarantee their security.
The UK government, for instance, shared a statement clarifying that even though protests may be happening in Kenya, foreigners that may need emergency help should contact the nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission.
“You must carry a form of ID with you at all times. A copy of your passport is normally acceptable, but recently some police officers have been insisting on the original document,” the statement read in parts.
Kenya has consequently attracted British holidaymakers and has even been ranked among the top destinations in Africa beating countries like South Africa.
Direct flights from the UK, the Indian ocean coastline resorts and great weather are among the reasons Kenya is a top pick for most tourists.
The anti-government protests orchestrated by Azimio Party Leader Raila Odinga against the high cost of living have coincided with the peak of the tourism season.
The industry which is Kenya's third-largest source of foreign exchange employs up to 3.1 million people.
On Tuesday, July 18, East African Assembly legislator Hassan Omar appealed to Mombasa residents to stay away from protests so as to avoid disruption of the Coastal region's economy.
Omar stated that the protests which have already disrupted business activities risked undoing gains made in Kenya's economic sector.
