Tourism players warn IEBC demos turning away tourists

Players in the tourism sector have warned that the heightened political activity in the country could dent the sector if unchecked.

Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala says the sector has been making strides towards recovery but the political unease could wipe away all the gains.

“All these gains are going to the drain because of political misunderstanding,” Balala said after a meeting with coast tourism stakeholders.

The last five weeks have been marked by nationwide demonstrations by opposition leaders seeking to oust commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission. At the height of the protests, running battles between the police and demonstrators were a constant feature, with entrepreneurs reporting loss of business.

For tourism stakeholders, the images only work towards turning tourists away.

“What is happening now in the pretext of demonstration, we are destroying brand Kenya,” he said.

At the same time, the tourism stakeholders have urged the police to remove all billboards carrying photographs of terror suspects in Mombasa County, arguing it portrayed the country as unsafe and insecure.

By Patrick Kanga