Kenya- security, Ebola scare off tourists

KENYA’S tourism industry has
seen a decline in international
arrivals compared with last year,
according to data from the Kenya
National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS).
Calvin Cottar, owner of Cottar’s
1920 Safaris Camp, says they have
experienced a drop in occupancy as
a result of travel advisories following
tourist assaults, and more recently, the
Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
According to KNBS, Jomo Kenyatta
International Airport had a 12% decline
in foreign arrivals in the six months to
June, down to 358 977 compared with
409 130 in the same period last year.
Devan Jobanputra from Travel in
Style, said inbound business had
reduced significantly as a result of
the security incidents earlier in the
year. “Also, the cost of a safari/
beach holiday has gone up due to the
introduction of VAT last year.
“Foreign tour operators in the UK
and US have removed Kenya from
their brochures and product offering.
We’re hoping that the general security
situation improves and we’re able to
market the destination better. We’re
also hoping that we get a waiver on
VAT sooner rather than later.”
Juan Nel from Africa Stay, said
there had been a slight decrease in
interest from the South African market,
probably because of the recent ‘visa
scare’ and fluctuating exchange rates.
Kenya Tourism Board (KTB)
confirmed that the postponement of
implementing visa requirements had
been extended until further notice.
Calvin said prospective clients
from the US, UK and Europe didn’t
understand that terrorism was not
exclusive to Kenya and that Europe
was closer to Ebola-affected countries
in West Africa.
Last month, tour operator Roy
Davies, of UK-based World Discovery
told TNW that demand for travel to
Kenya had dropped considerably
because of the negative media
coverage and a warning from the FCO.
He said tour operators in the UK had
stopped selling the Kenyan coast
because they weren’t prepared to take
any risks.
The Kenya government is to make
an announcement at the end of the
month concerning the decrease in
arrivals.