The Kenya Association of Travel Agents held the first industry meeting this year on May 20, 2020. The meeting was held online due to the social distancing conditions occasioned by the Coronavirus pandemic that has wreaked havoc on the industry since March 2020 when the first case was announced in Kenya.
KATA Chairman Mr. Mohammed Wanyoike welcomed the members to the meeting. He pointed out how the pandemic has devastated the travel and tourism industries both locally and globally. Members were informed that the board has had several engagements with the Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala through various forums to discuss the effects and mitigation measures of the pandemic in the industry.
Members were also asked to use the labour advisory as advised by KATA on making decisions on staffing based on their individual situations. Mr Wanyoike pointed out that the largest resource in the industry is labour and this has been affected as businesses are not conducting any business leading to releasing staff on unpaid leave or offering pay cuts until the end of the pandemic.
Ms Mucuha during a presentation pointed out that the effects of COVID-19 have been felt locally and globally with recently released information from International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) revealing that airline sales available for sale in Africa have gone down to 38 percent down from 71 percent reduction due to low business.
Travel agents extensively discussed ways of business recovery coming up with strategies that will see to business continuity for travel agents post COVID-19.
