Kenya's aviation players are raising concern over the fresh Kenya Wildlife Service payment rules for accessing national parks, saying the new system is disrupting bookings and creating uncertainty in the tourism chain.
The operators argue that the changes, which took effect without warning, have limited payment options to M-Pesa and Visa cards while removing bank transfers that many tour agents relied on for handling group trips.
They say the move has already slowed down bookings and triggered cancellations, placing pressure on airlines that depend on a steady flow of safari travellers.
Tourism stakeholders are also unhappy about the 8.5 percent fee applied on all card transactions, calling it too high and out of line with other government payment systems.
In addition, they point to KWS using an exchange rate of Sh135 to the dollar, higher than the Central Bank average of about Sh129.50. Operators say these changes have pushed park access fees up, making Kenya more expensive and weakening its ability to compete with other African safari destinations.
Safarilink Aviation chief executive Alex Avedi noted that airlines feel the impact immediately since they depend on bookings generated by travel agencies that package safaris.
“We are at the end of the chain; we only fly on behalf of agents. When agents face cancellations, it hits us directly. We make investment and operational plans based on projected passenger numbers, and once you commit to acquiring an aircraft, it’s a long-term engagement. It’s not something you can easily walk away from,” he said.
He added that the sudden removal of bank transfers and the new 8.5 percent card charge has led to a drop in passenger traffic to major wildlife destinations, saying the constant shifts in policy are shaking confidence among investors and tour partners abroad.
“In regions like the EU, once a safari quote is given, it cannot be changed. When additional costs are introduced suddenly, the travel agents have to absorb the loss and that risks pushing them out of business,” Avedi said.
He cautioned that without a review of the system, tourists may choose alternative destinations that offer more predictable conditions.
Kenya Tourism Federation chairperson Fred Odek echoed the industry’s frustration, saying the sector is already navigating a slow recovery and cannot afford new hurdles.
He said the manner in which the system was rolled out has created avoidable pressure on operators who are already dealing with a fragile global tourism market.
Tour players are urging the state to quickly address the concerns to restore confidence and maintain Kenya’s place as a leading safari destination.
