Abstract:
The tourism and travel sector is undoubtedly one of the worst hit globally following the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. Arising from the pandemic, the tourism and wildlife sectors are experiencing unprecedented health and socio-economic crisis of unimagined proportions. Global response measures have devastated the tourism and wildlife sectors occasioned by travel restrictions. There is undoubtedly no determined end in sight of the COVID-19 pandemic although global efforts to find vaccine(s) and develop guidelines on how to live with COVID-19 have picked momentum. Kenya’s tourism sector has developed tourism and hospitality protocols on health and safety to mitigate the effects of the disruptions caused by the corona virus disease in business and people’s livelihoods. Actors in the tourism sector have therefore, through adoption of these protocols, taken responsibility of ensuring that destination Kenya is safe for tourism business. The objectives of the protocols are to: a. Inculcate institutional Operational and Staff Preparedness to ensure service provision that meets World Health Organization guidelines and Kenya’s Ministry of Health measures aimed at preventing spread of covid-19. b. Ensure a safe experience for visitors/guests and service providers. c. Rebuild trust & confidence hence increase and sustain demand for holiday and investment in the destination. d. Implement enabling policies and guidelines thus provide a step by step process of a careful reopening and restart of business in the tourism sector. To all visitors from near and far, Magical Kenya awaits. Karibuni, we are ready to receive you.
