You Will Now Pay More To Visit Maasai Mara
If you are planning to visit Maasai Mara, you need to check out on their current gate fee or else you are in for a rude shock. This follows the revision of the gate fees from KSh. 9,200 ($70) to KSh. 26,500 ($200) after the government’s dramatic decision to increase park fee.
According to Fred Odek, Chairperson of the Kenya Association of Tour Operators and the Kenya Tourism Federation, tourist numbers in Kenya are high but still fall short of traditional expectations.
Several tour operators who previously favored the Mara have reportedly diverted their safaris to the Tanzanian side in response to the increased fees. Industry stakeholders have attributed the significant loss of bookings to the ongoing nationwide protests.
Speaking on Citizen TV, Lias Kibutu, a Board Member of the Kenya Coast Tourism Association, expressed his dissatisfaction with the current tourism prospects the country is grappling with. He opined that Kenya faces a competitive disadvantage.
“Kenya has single-handedly boosted tourism for Tanzania and they’re improving their game. We are losing bookings and investments to them,” Kibutu stated.
He clarified that while there have been minimal cancellations in the Kenyan tourism spark, the ripple effect of new business for the sector has been felt.
“We’ve not had many cancellations, but there’s no new business while this is considered the height of the peak season. Hotels in Diani, Watamu, and Malindi are experiencing an occupancy rate of 80% to 90%,” he added.
On the other hand, another stakeholder, Mohammed Hersi who is the Founding Chair of the Kenya Tourism Federation, stated that the bigger picture that the media have painted over the last few weeks due to protests has played a hand in a tourist’s perception of Kenya.
He stated that tourism is the first victim of violence in any country as visitors monitor different aspects before travelling.
“Tourists become worried when they see disturbing headlines and images of violence from countries they want to visit. When there are clashes, tourism is the first to be affected and last to recover. Protests and tourism are incompatible because they disrupt those who visit for holidays and businesses,” he said.
Below is a list of all the new rates:
1. Foreign tourists above 18 years – Sh. 26,500 ($200)
2. Foreign children between 9 and 17 years – Sh. 6,625 ($50)
3. Foreign children aged 8 and below – Free Entry
4. Kenyan adults – Sh. 3,000
5. Children & Students – Sh. 1,000
6. Local Adult Residents (Narok County) – Sh. 2,000
7. Local children above 10 years – Sh. 500
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