The coronavirus pandemic has affected tourism at the Coast. This has happened with the many investors now counting mounting losses. With things getting dimmer by the day, some investors are now contemplating selling their beach hotels. The beaches along with the world-famous tourist destinations in Lamu, Kwale, Kilifi and Mombasa counties once flooded with both local and international tourists are eerily quiet, depicting how the sector has been hit hard by the pandemic.
This is an enormous blow to the coastal economy. Tourism is that the region’s economic lifeline directly employing over 8000 workers, but currently only half the workforce has been rehired performing on 50 per cent salary thanks to the economic downturn. Malindi in Kilifi County which is considered Kenya’s ‘little Italy’, thanks to its justifiable share of Italian tourists and investors, is the worst-hit resort as most hotels are yet to reopen leaving over 2000 workers jobless.
Data source: All Africa news
