Kenya’s tourism officials have voiced their disappointment at new Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) advice against all but essential travel to parts of the country.
The FCO’s advice has caused Thomson to remove its customers from Mombasa, although most holidaymakers are travelling to areas outside of the advisory zone.
Tours operators have a duty to contact customers staying in advisory zones and can offer the option to change arrangements when advice is put in place.
The FCO has advised against all but essential travel to Mombasa Island and within 5km of the coast from Mtwapa creek in the north to Tiwi in the south. Earlier today two explosions went off in Nairobi’s Gikomba market killing at least 10 people and injuring scores. It is not yet clear what caused the blasts but most recent attacks have been blamed on extremists linked to the Al Shabaab militant group.
“We are indeed disappointed by the FCO’s decision to enforce this advice against non-essential travel to some areas of Mombasa. We will work tirelessly with the British Government to demonstrate the enhanced security in place to ensure the safety of British visitors,” said Muriithi Ndegwa, managing director of the Kenya Tourism Board.
Thomson has cancelled all flights to Mombasa until October and plans to fly home 400 customers currently staying in the area, after the FCO said there was a ‘high threat of terrorism’ predominantly from Al Shabaab.
Holidays in the majority of Kenya including the coastal resorts of Diani, Malindi, Watamu, Kilifi and Lamu are unaffected and continue to operate, while Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport has continued to operate flights as usual.
British Airways and Kenya Airways have not changed their schedules from the UK as a result, while other tour operators still expect holidaymakers to travel to the country over the next few weeks.
“We have lots of customers due to travel to Kenya in the next few weeks and, as always, many are choosing to combine safari and beach, staying in the coastal areas of Diani and Msambweni. We are confident these customers will continue with their plans undeterred, enjoying their holiday to the south coast, where tourism continues to thrive as usual,” said Ben Morison, managing director of Imagine Africa. “Consumer demand for Kenya continues and we’ve even taken some new bookings for holidays to Kenya in the coming week.”
Ash Sofat, CEO of Somak said: “We have contacted all our holiday-makers currently enjoying their vacation in Kenya to make them aware of the change in FCO advice for some areas of Mombasa and all have chosen to continue their holidays as planned. With all airports, safari circuits and many areas of the coast continuing to operate as normal we expect our customers to continue to travel to Kenya in the coming weeks.”
Tucan Travel said its tours are also unaffected but has advised its clients not to head into the centre of Nairobi.
Around 149,000 British people visited Kenya last year and is a leading safari destination.
Nigel Vere Nicoll, CEO of the African Travel & Tourism Association said: “There is no doubt this is going to affect tourism for the Mombasa area, however it is incredibly important that tour operators and consumers are aware that the majority of the Kenya coast, as well as all international airports and safari circuits, continue to operate as normal. In particular holiday-makers continue to enjoy the popular resorts of Diani, Malindi, Watamu, Kilifi and Lamu.”
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