The Kenyan government is providing financial support for the country’s hospitality industry which has been greatly affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
This support will allow hotels and other providers to remain afloat once the stakeholders meet to finalise on the protocols to guide the processes of re-opening the sector.
President Uhuru Kenyatta announced the financial support at State House, Nairobi, during this year’s Madaraka Day celebration.
“The Tourism Sector has suffered some of the most severe shocks – due to restricted movement, termination of international flights and the introduction of social distancing protocols,” said the President.
“To jumpstart this important sector, and to protect its players from heavy financial losses, my Administration will refocus our intervention by offering an initial Ksh 2 Billion exchequer support to hotels and related establishments to ensure that they maintain their staff compliment. ,” Uhuru said.
During the week, the newly created National Tourism and Hospitality Protocols Taskforce by the Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife will be submitting its protocols.
The Taskforce was established to develop Tourism and Hospitality protocols and guidelines in response to COVID-19 pandemic. It brings together different players in the industry, entertainment, safari guides, stakeholders in the aviation ministry, retailers among others as gazetted by the minister.
It is required to undertake key among them: developing tourism and hospitality health and safety protocols, guidelines for the implementation of the protocols.
They are also required to propose an implementation approach for the protocols and make recommendations for effective compliance and self-regulation of the industry in the implementation of the protocols.
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