Beachfront Hotels in Diani Brace For High Tourism Season

Beachfront hotels in Diani Beach are bracing for the peak tourism season as holidaymakers flock back to the sandy beaches while bed occupancy increases.

Hotels, lodges and other accommodation facilities are reporting heavy bookings for the upcoming Christmas and New Year holiday weeks.

In some cases, this year’s occupancy rates are a stark contrast with the last two years’ numbers, when the travel industry was suffering losses due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

Diani Beach in Kwale County is the preferred holiday destination for many Kenyans and foreign visitors and each year it receives a record number of holidaymakers arriving to savour its beautiful sandy beaches and tropical ambience.

The Beach has been voted the best beach destination in Africa six years in a row by the World Travel Awards.

Stakeholders in the hospitality industry say beach hotels and other tourist establishments are reporting brisk reservations and bookings, ahead of the Christmas and New Year festivities.

Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC) Coast branch Executive Officer Sam Ikwaye says the festive season looks promising for those in the tourism, travel and hospitality industry.

Ikwaye says advance bookings and reservations witnessed had been ‘very encouraging,’ with local holidaymakers accounting for the highest percentage.

“The signs are that this will be an extremely busy and fully booked festive period,” said Ikwaye adding that hotel bed occupancy is currently oscillating between 80-90 percent.