Several hotels that had been closed down in the coastal region of Kenya due to a slump in the tourism sector have re-opened in anticipation of the December holiday.

According to tourism stakeholders, the hotels have already started receiving both local and international bookings following the lifting of travel advisories by Britain and U.S. in the wake of relative calm in the tourism resort region.

Speaking to Xinhua, the hoteliers said the season looks brighter compared to last year when the region was facing terrorist attacks that forced many hotels to closedown and sack thousands of staff.

Kenya Coast Tourists Association executive officer Millicent Odhiambo said several hotels such as Temple Point, Coral Key, Eden Rock and Hemingways Resort, in Malindi and Watamu in Kilifi County are operational.

The four were part of the 21 hotels that were closed down at the coast for several months due to poor business occasioned by travel advisories that were issued by the western nations.

Britain, Australia, France and United States are major tourism source markets and the issuance of the travel advisories led to massive cancellations in hotel bookings in the region.

"We are now optimist that the tourism sector is on recovery path since most hotels are now opening to tap both local and foreign visitors during this high season," said Odhiambo.

Credit: Coastweek.com