Tourism Ministry To Cap Park Visitors As High Season Begins

Written By Mary Mumbua  📝 

The Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife intends to cap the number of visitors allowed in some national parks and game reserves on a daily basis in order to reduce high season overcrowding and promote all-year travel, in a move that will result in rates being raised more than six times.

According to a new strategy paper released by the ministry, the cap will be set at the carrying capacity of the parks.

This means that visitors to the high-volume parks and reserves, Masai Mara, Amboseli, and Nairobi National Park, will be limited to 32,000, 13,0000, and 10,000 visitors per month, respectively.

The number of visitors, both local and non-resident, will be limited through the use of an online ticketing and digital payment system that the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) intends to implement across all national parks and reserves.

The digital system will generate tickets that include traveler information such as validity dates and a cost breakdown that includes fees for conservation and park development.

“Capping volumes of visitors in priority parks could reduce the overall number of visitors but shouldn’t negatively impact overall revenues if combined with a seasonal increase in prices,’’ the Tourism and Wildlife ministry said.

“Main assumption is increase in prices from June to October for residents and non-residents, including African Union citizens, by two times to six times in the Masai Mara; and 30-150 percent in Amboseli and Nairobi Park. Assuming no drop in visitor numbers due to increased prices.”

The move comes amid concerns of congestion of tourists and safari vehicles in parks and reserves such as Masai Mara, especially during the great wildebeest migration season, threatening wildlife, and reducing the destinations’ international tourism standards and appeal to visitors.

Due to high demand, the capping is set to raise entry rates during the high season. Visitors will also be required to pre-purchase park entry tickets in order to manage crowds and prevent fraud at the gate.

To prevent reselling by large tour operators, tickets will be non-transferable and tagged against a personal ID or passport number.

The plan is part of a five-year tourism strategy that runs through 2025.