Assessing the Effects of Covid-19 on Africa’s Economic Security, a Case Study of Kenya’s Hospitality and Tourism Sectors

Abstract

COVID-19 has caused unprecedented challenges to the entire world, at the onset of the Pandemic, communities across the world began to experience the hurdles, ranging from health to other social and economic needs. In fighting the Pandemic, the governments of different countries adopted various strategies and policies including total and partial lockdown, introduction of curfews, closing of borders, restrictions on transportation, limitations on the number of passengers per transit, closing down of restaurants, bars and other entertainment joints, restrictions on gatherings including the number of people to attend church or social events. All these restrictions saw the usual lifestyles of the people change. The pandemic has posed numerous challenges on the economic security of communities across the globe, at higher risk are those who live and work in informal sectors, it has spared no one including women and children, the poor and the people living with disabilities. Restrictions on travels and movements across borders, caused a decrease in the activities within the tourism and hospitality sector, consequently leading to loss of income, increased unemployment rates and eventually on the standards of living of the African population. This research purposes to Assess the impact of the Pandemic on the Economic security of Africa, a case study of Kenya’s Hospitality and Tourism sectors, It looks at how COVID-19 has affected the Economic Security Of Africa, the impact of the pandemic on Kenya’s tourism and hospitality sectors and the impact of the Pandemic on the employment rates within Kenya’s tourism and hospitality sectors and how this affects the standards of living of the People. The study also keenly explores how available policies can be keenly implemented towards post-Covid Economic Recovery. It applied Keynes theory of economic growth and adopted a mixed method approach through the use of both quantitative and qualitative data. The study relied on both primary and secondary data.