Hotel owners warn of raid’s effects on tourism sector
What you need to know:
- The attack comes just days after the British Government closed down its Mombasa consulate over security fears
- Mombasa and Coast Tourist Association (MCTA) executive officer Millicent Odhiambo said the attack on two small hotels had impacted negatively on the industry
Tourism industry stakeholders are worried that the Mpeketoni attack will deal a huge blow to a sector already hit by the adverse effects of travel advisories.
This comes about a month after the industry suffered a setback when the UK, the US and Australia issued travel advisories that culminated in the evacuation of 500 British tourists from the Coast.
It also comes just days after the British Government closed down its Mombasa consulate over security fears. The closure sparked jitters over tourist bookings for the high season because the UK is Kenya’s leading tourist source market.
Mombasa and Coast Tourist Association (MCTA) executive officer Millicent Odhiambo said the attack on two small hotels had impacted negatively on the industry.
“We were already not expecting a vibrant high tourist season,” she said in relation to the travel advisories. “The Mpeketoni attack has even worsened the situation.”
Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers Coast branch executive officer Sam Ikwaye said Lamu’s tourism would be adversely affected.
“The rising insecurity does not augur well as we are already feeling the travel advisory heat,” he said.
Kenya Association of Tour Operators Coast branch chairperson Monika Solanki warned that the country might also lose European source markets that had not issued travel advisories if the insecurity was not addressed.
