Let coast hotels promote domestic tourism to curb unemployment
Let coast hotels promote domestic tourism to curb unemployment
April,August
and December are the peak period of hotels industry at the coast and
upcountry towns. When hotel owners are interviewed during this time,they
report that their hotels are fully booked and surprisingly mostly by
Kenyans. International tourists coming to Kenya have declined by half
since 2011.So it upon the hotel owners to take advantage of domestic
tourists. But come January, may and September hotels report that their
hotels are empty and they are laying off their workers. This is
immaterial. Cotu and FKE should protect workers from such harassment at
all cost from being laid off during these months off peak months. Why
don't they save for the rainy days instead of laying off their workers
every now and again. Alternatively the workers can be trained like the
insurance agents who lure and recruit people for the various insurance
policies, by selling the packages of like one day,one week,a month to
business people,companies, workers,government officials, and informal
sector. These people can stay in their hotels during the off season
after being offered good subsidized rates. Some companies can book
cottages or conference rooms. With the Kenyan economy and Kenyans having
changed their destinations from rural to visiting hotels in the beaches
and towns. The packages being sold can include payment in instalments.
This will create jobs and employees will not be laid off and it will
have a multiplier effect. Also holidays benefit an individual health
wise. The towns visited will benefit economically and also those who
supply goods and services will be assured of an income.
By
Veronica Onjoro
Mombasa
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