Tourism stakeholders across Kenya have been urged to adopt smart payment technologies to improve service delivery and enhance the overall visitor experience.
Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano notes that the incorporation of digital payment systems in the tourism business is not only a way to enable businesses but also facilitates transactions that are more convenient for both foreign and local travelers.
Following a discussion about the need for more modern and efficient means of conducting the hospitality industry, Miano pointed out that going cashless not only will make working more efficient but also help he sector to track revenues and operate transparently.
In 2019, Kenya welcomed 2. 7 million international visitors and tourism, when combined with domestic travel, contributed almost half a billion shillings in revenue.
Nevertheless, some in the industry perceive that the digital payment figure could significantly jump if digital payment systems are integrated into all tourism channels.
Hospitality professionals, tour operators, and other providers insist that the fragmented and largely cash-based payment system still acts as a drag on growth; this is particularly true during the busy travel season.
The nation is already on its way to becoming a cash-lite economy mainly due to key interventions such as the requirement of digital payments in national parks, the distribution of mobile money platforms, and the TouristTap platform introduced to aid in formalizing payments of SMEs.
Industry stakeholders add that smart payment solutions will be the most effective tool of the future during the peak tourism season from July to October, in which demand for efficient and secure transactions is at its highest.
They argue that a digital payment system throughout the tourism value chain could lead to higher revenues, enhanced accountability, and a boost for Kenya’s brand as a global tourism market competitor and a visitor-friendly destination.
