Kenyan tourism investors appeal for lifting of travel advisories

Tourism is the 2nd largest source of foreign exchange revenue in Kenya following agriculture.

By Christine Lagat and Chrispinus Omar
Sunday, May 18, 2014

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Key investors in Kenya’s tourism sector on Friday appealed to the British, Australian, U.S. and French governments to suspend travel advisories warning their citizens against visiting the east African nation due to terror threats.

The investors told a news conference in Nairobi that the tourism industry is reeling from shocks after the issuance of travel advisories on Wednesday.

"Currently, the tourism sector is grappling with multiple challenges and the recent travel advisories have made matters worse as evidenced by cancellation of bookings from the traditional market," Kenya Tourism Federation vice-chairman Dan Jillo said.

The British government was the first to issue travel advisories warning its citizens not to visit the coastal beaches, Nairobi and the north-eastern region.

France, Australia and the United States followed with updated advisories.

The Western nations said there have been numerous attacks in the past 18 months involving shootings, grenades, or other explosive devices in Kenya in addition to the attacks described above.

More than 100 people have been killed in these attacks and hundreds have been injured with half of these attacks occurring in northeastern Kenya, mainly in Dadaab, Wajir, Garissa, and Mandera counties.

Analysts had also warned that the warnings are a blow to Kenya’s already troubled tourist industry which relies on foreign visitor, many of whom combine safaris with beach holidays in Mombasa.

But Kenyan authorities said the East African nation was playing a pivotal role in ensuring that terrorism and other forms of criminal activities threatening the country’s security were minimized if not eliminated.

Jillo regretted that the travel advisories have thrown the tourism sector into a spin and multiplier effects are being felt in all economic sectors.

"Reports that we have received from some of our members in the Coast indicate that at least 700 guests will be evacuated by close of business today," Jillo said.

"One of the largest British tour operators has indicated that it has cancelled its weekly scheduled flights to the coast until Oct. 31," Jillo said.

He added that the entire value chain in the tourism industry has been affected by the travel advisories.

Kenya’s coastal towns are the backbone of the country’s thriving tourism industry, which has been hit by the fear of terror attacks and the kidnapping of foreigners by Somali pirates from resorts near the border with Somalia.

"Any jitters in the tourism sector have profound impacts to key sectors of the economy like agriculture and transport. A drop in hotel bookings will affect suppliers of fresh produce, taxi drivers and curio dealers," Jillo said.

Investors in the tourism sector urged the government to engage U.S., Britain, France and Australia in order to find amicable solution to crises triggered by travel advisories.

Kenya Association of Hotel Keepers and Caterers CEO Mike Macharia noted that security worries have impacted negatively on Kenya’s tourism industry.

"Our tourism sector is under siege and we call on the Western countries to revise their advisories.

"State agencies should step up the game to restore confidence in our leading source of foreign exchange," Macharia said.

He revealed that Kenya risks losing over 50 million dollars if the crises engulfing the tourism sector are not addressed urgently.

Kenyan tourism investors are counting on state intervention to rescue the sector from unfolding crises triggered by travel advisories.

Macharia stressed that government’s response to the latest travel advisories will reassure foreign visitors and investors.

"Tourism is built on confidence and we appeal to state officials to proactively engage with stakeholders to find lasting solution to security worries discouraging investors and tourists," said Macharia.

Statistics from the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB), about 600,000 Kenyans are directly employed in tourism, which provides 12.5 percent of the country’s GDP.

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