Tourists fly out as travel firms heed warnings

Britain on Friday stepped up the evacuation of its citizens touring Kenya as the Government and tourism officials protested, terming the decision unfair and harmful to the economy.

More than 600 tourists left the Coast for the UK in two chartered planes on Friday as British tour firm Thomson Holidays informed its clients that all flights up to October 31 had been cancelled.

Kenya Tourism Federation vice-chairman Adam Jillo accused the US, UK, Australia and France of failing to consult them before making the decision to pull out their citizens.

Mr Jillo, who addressed a news conference in Nairobi, criticised the Government “for not doing enough” to reassure tourist markets that Kenya was a safe destination. He warned that the tourism sector would collapse if the government did not respond to the travel warnings, noting that the economy would lose more than Sh5 billion and 500,000 jobs over the period of the cancellations.

“Tourist are now being airlifted out of Mombasa without any consultation with the private sector; we are greatly disappointed by this move,” said Mr Jillo, who urged the Government to consider increasing funding to the tourism sector to ensure its sustainability.

“All indications are that the travel warnings were based on security-related information. As citizens and investors in the sector, we are greatly disappointed in the Government’s inaction because they should be handling this and reassuring citizens, investors and our tourist source markets,” he added.

Federation chairman JS Vohra, said their members at the Coast had reported losing about 900 guests, who were all set to leave the country last night.

Thomson Holidays posted an alert on its website saying; “As a result of the change in Foreign and Commonwealth Office advice, the decision has been taken to cancel all our outbound flights to Mombasa.”

The alert explained that all the firm’s customers on holiday in Kenya, including air fare passengers would be flown back to the UK on Thursday and yesterday while all flights to the country before October 31 had been cancelled.

“We understand that many customers will be very disappointed about the cancellation of their holidays but in these types of situations we have to follow the FCO advice,” the notice said.

Australia also updated its travel advice, urging its citizens to reconsider their need to travel to Mombasa and Nairobi in the wake of recent terrorist attacks.

Britain warned its citizens against travelling to Mombasa, Eastleigh in Nairobi and areas within 60 kilometres of the Kenya–Somalia border unless travel was essential and unavoidable.

SAFE DESTINATION

The top five tourist source markets for Kenya are UK with 149,699 arrivals, US with 115,636, Italy with 79,993 and India and Germany at 64,887 and 60,450 respectively according to the tourism performance results in 2013.

Mombasa County Commissioner Nelson Marwa sought to assure Kenyans and foreigners that Mombasa was a safe destination contrary to the warnings and that security had been beefed up in hotels, ferries, airports, supermarkets and entertainment spots.

Mr Marwa said activities at the Moi International Airport were normal. “There is peace in Mombasa and foreigners should continue with their normal business without being frightened.”
Moi International Airport, Area Manager Yatich Kangugo said the airport was secure.

According to the BBC, the warning against non-essential travel covered Mombasa Island, Kiwayu and coastal areas north of Pate Island, the Garissa district, Eastleigh, the slums of Nairobi and areas within 60km of the Kenya-Somalia border.

The advice did not include the Diani beach resort or Moi International Airport.

British tourists expressed disappointment at the abrupt interruption of their holiday at the South Coast.

Some of them had only been in the country for three days and were yet to tour national parks and heritage sites.

Mr Stefan Arlow, who was vacationing at Amani Tiwi, said he was informed that tourists were to quickly leave the country and return home and that he flew back home against his wish.

“I am disappointed to be told that I should be evacuated yet I was to relax after working and saving for the holiday,” he said while waiting to board his flight.

Mr Gary Roberts said he “was gutted” by the requirement to go back to England after “a short time on holiday in a beautiful country.”

He said: “I am angry that I have to return home prematurely without completing my holiday.”

A disappointed Sheila Simon said: “I had to obey the directive to go home but this decision is not good for me.”

Reported by Lilian Onyango, Yvonne Kawira and Bozo Jenje