NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 28 – Kenya needs to relook the aviation and travel sector and utilize digitization for a fair chance of recovery after the coronavirus pandemic dealt it heavy blows.
This is according to Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala who advised an online tourism stakeholder conference to restart and reset the industry and to adapt to the current scenario.
Balala asked industry players to be aware of the possible change in the age demographics of tourists, saying that younger people will be more likely to travel than the older generation.
He also urged stakeholders to change their mindsets on domestic and regional markets, saying these could be key sources of income post the coronavirus pandemic.
“We also need to make sure we utilize the ever evolving digital world which we are all now compatible with, ensure that conservation and wildlife which are a key component of the industry are enhanced, advocate for legislation and re-engineering of the industry, establish recovery funds for SME’s, and relook the aviation and travel sector. Without aviation there is no tourism, configuration of the sector is therefore paramount,” said CS Balala
The virus has ravaged the sector with data from the Kenya Association of Travel Agents revealing that over 90 percent of bookings for the month of April was canceled after Europe, America and the Middle East issued lockdown notices.
The Association expects bookings for May, June, and July to be extremely depressed as travelers opt to postpone their travel until quarter four.
