Violent scenes of Cord's protests bad for tourism, says Balala

Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala has warned that violent protests against the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) might deal a blow to the industry that is still recovering from a two-year slump.

The CS said the scenes of Cord supporters looting shops, damaging motor vehicles and carrying weapons were ruining Kenya’s image in overseas tourist markets.

Mr Balala said although he was not opposed to demonstrations, the Opposition leaders should hold peaceful protests instead of inciting people to violence.

“For the last two years, the tourism sector has been on its knees with the hotels at the Coast hit hard by the slump while 30,000 hotel workers were rendered jobless,” Mr Balala said.

“The government has worked hard in order to revive the sector, but the chaotic anti-IEBC protests might slow down tourism recovery,” he warned.

He went on: “It’s primitive for demonstrators to use violence. We can’t accept this and the Opposition leaders involved in the chaotic protests should face the law.”

Mr Balala called on political leaders to tone down or else it would be difficult for tourism to recover.

“We don’t want to return to the dark days, as the people who suffer most are those from the Coast region,” he said.

Mr Balala made the remarks in Diani on Friday when he officially opened Sh200 million Hillpark Amare Resort.

“The tourism sector improved in the first quarter of 2016, but we expect more international tourists to visit the country during the high season that begins in mid-July,” said Mr Balala.

Hillpark Hotels general manager Ms Jeananne Wanjui said the new hotel mainly targets weddings and honeymooners.

She called on Kenyans to embrace holiday culture to boost tourism since the hotel industry also supports other sectors such as agriculture through purchase of fruits, vegetables, dairy products, beef, and fish among other supplies.

The Tourism CS said he was optimistic that the sector would do better this year after the United Kingdom, United States (US), France and Australia lifted travel advisories against Kenya.

In addition, Mr Balala said the country expected more tourists from Germany, France, Italy, and Spain during the European summer season after aggressive marketing in those countries.

“We have also done marketing across the East African region and locally to boost hotel occupancy and help create more jobs and economic growth,” he said.

Mr Balala also urged Kenyans to tour their country to support the revival of the tourism sector.

Kenya Tourism Board chairman, Mr Jimi Kariuki, said he expects tourism at the Coast to improve from July to December this year.

The KTB boss said tourists from Germany were on the increase while those from Italy, France, UK and Spain are expected to soar during the high tourist season.