Mombasa's beaches, culture and hospitality remain major attractions. [File, Standard]
Domestic tourism is increasingly becoming a key pillar of Mombasa’s hospitality industry, with hotels reporting a growing number of Kenyan travellers visiting the Coast for holidays, conferences, corporate meetings and sporting events.
The trend has helped hotels maintain business throughout the year while reducing reliance on international visitors during traditional low seasons.
Margaret Masha, Sales and Marketing Manager at Bamburi Beach Hotel, said the hospitality industry has witnessed a significant shift, with more Kenyans choosing to holiday and hold events at local destinations.
Masha said domestic visitors also support the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) sector, helping hotels remain active throughout the year.
“Instead of relying solely on the international market, there is now a large volume of domestic tourism. Nationals are coming in for corporate meetings as well as holidays, and this allows the facility to remain active throughout the year,” she explained.
Masha said major events hosted in Mombasa such as the recent Our Ocean conference have also benefited the wider tourism ecosystem, with hotels, Airbnbs and small businesses all gaining from increased visitor numbers.
She noted the benefits extend to small-scale traders and families who depend on tourism-related businesses for their livelihoods. She said her hotel has 75 percent occupancy thanks to domestic visitors.