Tourism and wildlife secretary of Kenya, Najib Balala, has set up a National Tourism Crisis Steering Committee to come up with mitigation measures for any emergencies that will dim the industry’s performance in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. 

The move comes at a time when tourism stakeholders are already predicting losses worth tens of millions of Kenyan Shillings on the widespread travel restrictions globally in a bid to mitigate the spread of coronavirus.

According to a gazette notice, the 20-member committee to be chaired by tourism chief administrative secretary Joseph Boinnet will also include the inspector general of police, Hillary Mutyambai, attorney general, Paul Kariuki and Kenya Tourism Board chief executive officer, Betty Radier.

The team to spearhead crisis mitigation in the tourism sector for a three-year renewable term will further be expected to oversee operations of the National Tourism Crisis Operational Centre set up at the Kenyatta University in Nairobi.

Already, the outbreak of coronavirus has caused a huge impact in the tourism sector after countries moved to restrict movement to curb the disease that has so far claimed a huge loss of lives globally.

Kenya’s air travel sector players recorded a 6 pc decline in travel bookings owing to travel restrictions due to the coronavirus.

The pandemic has seen some hotels close temporarily sending staffers home while others have nothing but empty beds.

The government announced that it was setting aside Sh500 million (USD 4.7 million) that will help the tourism sector recover post coronavirus, which is now affecting the global economy.