From a story in Reuters about the continuing talks and the effects of the problems on the economy ...

<b>&quot;The Kenya Tourist Board said arrivals for the first quarter would be 27,000 visitors, less than a tenth of its pre-election prediction of 315,000.&quot;</b>

http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnL0689152.html

Bill

That's awful for them, but, it may be awhile before the tourist numbers head back?

As we know, people often book trips to Africa 12, or even 18 months in advance...so recent events could definitely effect things for some time to come, as people book alternatives to Kenya.

To put it into a dramatic perspective... they say for every person who doesn't come to Kenya 8 people lose their jobs.

Each of those 8 people support around 8 people. There is NO social security. Children will not be going to school (education is &quot;free&quot;, but if you can't afford books, materials or fees) Old folks wont get the medicine they may need.

It's time to lift the travel advisories. Now. There are certain areas that should be avoided... but at the moment the rest is peaceful.

This is very sad... but now that the tension has subsided.. i feel that people should start returning quickly... i hope the kenyan govt acts fast and reassures safety and the foreign govts...try to help

It is funny that even though none of the tourists that visited as far as i know...have been harmed...still people are scared to go...it itself speaks for itself that there is no need to panic....

Sonali

Just goes to show how fickle many tourists are, presumably many will not come to SA in case there is no power for their mobile phones.

On the positive side it must be a nice break for the animals in the Mara not to be chased from pillar to post all day.

Pumbava
Interesting maths given that it appears that 315,000 tourists were meant to visit in the first quarter then that must mean that the tourism industry generates over 20 million jobs, hardly likely.
If you can believe the newspapers about 250,000 are directly employed and the same nunber indirectly employed.

Ken,

It looks like a good time to go to the Mara!

That's substantial and the financial repercussions will be felt for quite some time.

I saw a piece on DW-TV with the German ambassador stating he felt the social and civil repercussions might take a decade to fully heal.

Hopefully peace and stability will return soon.

If I had enough holiday left, I would go on safari in Kenya and take advantage of the lack of little white tourist vans! I would avoid road travel between parks to avoid unnecessary risk. Are travel insurers providing cover for holidays to Kenya at the moment?

Hari,

Funnily enough my wife just said the same. We are however commited to Botswana in March.

Hamish
I agree entirely

My Kenya outfitter, Nature Expeditions, sent me an e-mail listing a couple of specials: $1500 for a flying safari, pp sharing - Stanley or Norfolk, one night, Samburu Intrepids, two nights, Mara Intrepids, two nights. They also had specials to Lamu, Kipungani Explorer from $796. I can forward the e-mail to anyone who might be interested.

&quot;Author: sniktawk
Date: 02/14/2008, 09:59 am
Pumbava
Interesting maths given that it appears that 315,000 tourists were meant to visit in the first quarter then that must mean that the tourism industry generates over 20 million jobs, hardly likely.
If you can believe the newspapers about 250,000 are directly employed and the same nunber indirectly employed.&quot;

The Maths may be out (you can't always believe what you read in a newspaper. But it's still a trdgedy (I get 2.5 million jobs from my maybe misleading figures, not 20 million) But on an individual level the number of &quot;0&quot;'s doesn't make it any less tragic. Kenyans with jobs are often supporting extended families.