Safety for Tourists Questioned

**Captain Larry** · 01-06-2008, 03:12 PM

Kenya is the latest in a long list of countries where the safety of tourists cannot be guaranteed, and is, in fact, strongly questioned. I think things are getting somewhat better, but caution is still advised.

Quote:

MOMBASA, Kenya (AP) -- Amel Blouza came to Kenya expecting a holiday on white beaches and a safari with a chance to view elephants -- or perhaps giraffes lumbering across the picture-perfect savannah.

Instead, she hasn't even left her hotel. She is too scared to venture out as enraged protesters clashed across the country after a disputed election in one of Africa's top tourist destinations.

Here's the rest of the article:

Violence scares off tourists in Kenya - CNN.com

**Captain Larry** · 01-06-2008, 03:25 PM

I spent a few days of a "working" vacation in Mombassa in 1989. It was a delightful place for a Tropical holiday. However, even then, the evidence was plentiful that there was unrest. The contrast between the "haves" and the "have-nots" was more obvious there than in most countries I have visited. Once he got to know you and determined that you were not a threat, the Kenyan "man-on-the-street" would, after looking over his shoulder a couple of times, tell you that he was very dissatisfied with his lifestyle and his government. Then President Moi controlled the Army and thus controlled the country through martial law. One thing that meant was that in any confrontation with a Kenyan, the tourist was always "right." That is similar to the attitude that prevailed in many nations to which tourism was a significant part of national income. But the more or less down-trodden citizenry has become less compliant and more militant over the years.

**Captain Larry** · 01-06-2008, 03:49 PM

BBC News

Quote:

Travel firms cancel Kenya trips

UK travel companies have cancelled holidays to Kenya until Monday, the Federation of Tour Operators has announced.

The move comes after all the UK's major tour operators on Thursday suspended holidays to Kenya for two days.

Operators began cancelling flights following Foreign Office advice that people should only take essential trips to the East African country.

More than 300 people have been killed in Kenya in post-election rioting.

Violence erupted on 27 December after claims of vote rigging in the presidential polls.

The Foreign Office has urged anyone in areas affected by the violence, including Mombasa, Eldoret and Kisumu, to remain indoors and to "exercise extreme caution".

Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) spokesman Graham Lancaster said: "Foreign Office advice against all but essential travel to Kenya is still in place and we thought it best to extend the cancellation dates."

Monday is a major return-home day for UK tourists in Kenya and holiday airlines would be sending planes to the country to bring people back, he added. "About 500 people are affected by the cancellation of trips on Sunday and Monday. The FTO will be deciding over the weekend on holiday arrangements for the days after Monday." British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Kenya Airways are continuing UK-Kenya scheduled services as normal.

**Captain Larry** · 01-07-2008, 02:46 PM

A report from a vantage a little closer to the scene - this from the East Africa Standard:

Quote:

Coast hotel bookings fall
Published on January 7, 2008, 12:00 am

By Philip Mwakio

Players in tourism have expressed fears that the industry may be brought to its knees if violent confrontations that have rocked parts of the country continue.

They said occupancy in most hotels had reduced from 85 per cent to 50 per cent, days after violence broke out.

They said further insecurity could lead to massive cancellations and render many workers jobless.

Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC) and the Mombasa and Coast Tourist Association (MCTA) said the chaos had damaged the country’s reputation abroad.

The full article:

The Standard Online Edition