Hotel bookings for fans expected at the upcoming World Rally Championships [WRC] in Naivasha has reached fever pitch after accommodation facilities recorded a 90 advance bookings.
The Safari Rally motorsport showpiece which apparently coincides with the Easter season for three years in a row since it was re-introduced has since attracted thousands of revelers and rally enthusiasts who visit the lakeside town to experience the thrill and fun-filled event
The event, now in its fourth-year schedule in the country, has reverted to its traditional Easter holiday and is slated for March 28th -31st in the expansive dry and dusty-riddled parts of Naivasha and Gilgil Sub-Counties.
In the past few weeks, a team from WRC and local safari rally officials have camped at the town to comb final touching around Service Park, rally routes to ensure the revered world known toughest motorsport event lives up to its billing.
According to David Mwangi, Chairman of the Nakuru County Tourism Association, the host hotels and accommodation facilities are ready to welcome their guests with 100,000 rally enthusiasts expected to line up along the main routes for a once-a-year memorable spendthrift moment.
Mwangi said the hospitality facilities in the county are also expecting to enhance their revenue streams from the WRC rally championship’s sh. 7B windfall to the country’s economy.
Mwangi said Naivasha and Gilgil being at the centre of the motorsport event are expected to benefit more with 90 per cent of the facilities recording full bookings thanks to the conjoined rally and Easter holiday celebrations.
Now, local hotels, Bed and Breakfast [BnBs] facilities and camping sites have upped their ante ahead of the event by having a fresh scent of a new paint, well-manicured lawns, freshened up beddings and put their acclaimed cuisines and delicacies in order, ready for their guests.
The local tourism players are taking everything by chance to woo their clients promising top-class dining and accommodation services at a time when Naivasha has gained traction as a key hospitality destination for both local and international vacationers.
Speaking during the official opening of the magnificent Lemaiyan Suites in Naivasha town, Mwangi said Nakuru County has earned her space as a key destination for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and exhibition facilities.
“Nakuru and especially Naivasha have its cake cut from billions of shillings the rally is expected to inject which will not only stimulate the local economy but create hundreds of jobs for deserving youths”, said Mwangi.
On his part, Nakuru Deputy Governor David Kones said the county has assured investors of political goodwill and support by easing processes geared towards speeding up investments.
Kones said the county continues to harness the power of public–private partnerships that are key to positioning the county as a key destination choice with numerous investors already breaking grounds across the county.
The Deputy Governor added that the choice of Naivasha as a host of world acclaimed WRC Safari rally for the fourth time in a row is a true testament to the resilient and vibrant nature of the local hospitality industry.
In addition, Nakuru County Executive Committee Member for Trade, Tourism and Cooperatives Stephen Kuria said the county continues to establish systems to enhance ease of doing business for both local and international investors.
To this end, Kuria said Nakuru County has harmonized and unified its license systems by establishing a one-stop shop where investors get a single business permit which has eased the roadmap to investments.
In addition, Kuria said the county will soon start the operationalization of the Mai Mahiu Special Economic Zone after the government handed business licenses to six investors to speed up their multi-billion shillings’ investment portfolios.
He exuded confidence that the special economic zone will turn around the fortunes of the county economy, spur growth and create thousands of formal and non-formal job opportunities for the youths.
The Lemaiyan general manager Antony Mwangi said the investment in the hospitality industry seeks to tap into the growing niche in the market seeking cost-friendly accommodation and conference facilities.
The manager said the new facility with over 80 executive rooms and tens of air BnBs has been fully booked thanks to its welcoming allure and world-class cuisine to boot.
The return of the WRC Safari Rally in Kenya in 2021 after a 19-year hiatus has nurtured and positioned the Naivasha tourism and hospitality industry as a key service provider with several facilities on an upward trajectory.
Local leaders have also assured of their engagement with the rally organizers officials to exclusively give job opportunities to local youths who have in the past decried being left out during the three day event in positions such as traffic marshalls, garbage collectors, entertainers, vendors among others.
Beyond the exhilarating vroom of rally cars,, spectators will also have a treat of spicy fish from Lake Naivasha, friendly roaming wild animals and experience the scenic view of volcanic dormant Mt. Longonot and Hell’s Gate wallows.
By Erastus Gichohi