Kenya crisis forces cruise itinerary changes

The Kenyan Tourist Board said yesterday that the Ministry of Tourism had set up a crisis committee containing both government representatives and key players like the Kenyan Tourist Board, hoteliers and site managers to try and come up with a recovery plan to save this year’s tourist income.

For the first time since they were established, several of Kenya’s premier beach resort are losing money – some have had cancelled business amounting to 28% of their annual bookings on the year.

Many cruise ships, including one that was slated to arrive in February from Japan, have already cancelled their trips and business meant for Kenya is now being diverted to Zanzibar where the demand for accommodation has outstripped available facilities. The Tourist Board reported that a wide range of cruise ships usually visit Kenya in the period between January and April, but most of them have now called off their trips over security concerns in the country.