Africa-Press – Kenya. Hotels and lodges within the renowned Maasai Mara Game Reserve are experiencing remarkable bookings during the Christmas Festival season, with the Narok County government ensuring tourists of enhanced security measures.
Johnson Sipitiek, the County Executive Committee (CEC) Member overseeing Tourism, confirmed the reinforcement of security through the deployment of additional police officers, KWS rangers, and Narok County rangers to the reserve.
In an interview with the Star in Narok, Sipitiek disclosed full bookings across all Mara hotels, highlighting that the majority of tourists are local visitors.
“We have intensified patrols in the park and as a way of ensuring the safety of our tourists. We want to assure all those visiting the Mara that the place is safe because we do not want to leave anything to chance,” he said on Sunday.
Despite enhancing the safety of the visitors, he said they will also keep an eye on the wildlife to ensure that they are all safe during these holidays.
He said that the revenue officers, who are tasked to collect park entry fees, are working to ensure the efficiency of visitors accessing the park.
The CEC urged all visitors to ensure that they abide by the rules and regulations of the park so that they cannot engage in activities that might be in conflict with wild animals.
“You should not step out of the vehicle while in the park and you will be given a guide who will direct you in the game viewing so that it cannot endanger your life,” he stated.
Sipitiet also used the opportunity to urge Kenyans to tour the facility during this holiday and watch different species of animals and also witness the rich-Maa culture.
A spot check by the Star showed that a majority of visitors in the park are locals, although international tourists have also made reservations to spend their holiday there.
Many hotels and lodges in the area are fully booked by local tourists, and those with available rooms continue to receive bookings throughout this season, extending into January.
JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge, a luxury safari lodge situated beside the Talek River in the park, was completely booked on Christmas Eve.
Hotel manager Fairman Muhingi said they received full bookings as the festivities began.
“Our hotel booking is full until the first week of January,” he said.
Hotel managers, interviewed by the Star via phone, attributed the surge in bookings to the government’s dedicated efforts to promote local tourism.
They also acknowledged the Narok County government’s initiatives to enhance infrastructure, coupled with the implementation of new Maasai Mara management plans focused on ensuring quality service delivery.
This boost to the tourism sector aligns with the country’s annual target of attracting 1.2 million to 1.5 million tourists.
The government aims to further elevate these figures to 4.5 million to 5 million tourists annually. Notably, half of the total number of guests visiting Kenya has been exploring the Maasai Mara region.
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