On beach beds under palm trees in Kenya’s Diani Beach, the usual throng of swimsuit-clad tourists dozing in the sun has been replaced by a more industrious crowd of laptop-bashers. Over the sound of the ocean comes the murmur of business jargon. Above the gurgling call of black-and-white colobus monkeys reverberates the cry of the anguished executive: “I’ll circle back by cob.” When covid-19 struck, it dealt a grievous blow to Kenya’s tourism industry, which generates about 9% of gdp. With airports shut and many travellers in the rich world locked in their homes, the number of foreign tourists visiting Kenya slumped by almost three-quarters. Najib Balala, Kenya’s tourism minister, warned that the industry was on the verge of collapse.
SOURCE: THE ECONOMIST
More Stories
Nationalising Rabat’s State Entities
When One Trial Ends Another Opens for South Africa’s Former President
China Follows DRC’s Lead on Mining Regulations
Namibian Protesters Call for Talks Before Accepting Berlin’s Deal
Nigeria has been Grappling with a Growing Drug Problem
Kigali Snubs Belgium Over Jailed Hotelier
How African States Can Take Advantage of the Growing Demand of Cashews
Proceeds from Seized Assets to Fund Malabo’s Vaccination Programme
Khartoum’s Transition Rocked by Coup Attempt
What a ‘Day of Peace’ Looks Like in Nigeria
Richard Branson’s Oasis in Morocco Gets Top Prize
The UK Keeps South Africa on its Red List for Travel