Mombasa violence to slow down tourism, warn hoteliers

Hoteliers have warned that the tourism industry stands to lose the most if the chaos that rocked Mombasa following the killing of a controversial Muslim cleric Aboud Rogo on Monday are not contained.

Also read: Maintain rule of law

The unrest entered the third day on Wednesday but was quelled by a contingent from the General Service Unit.

However, the disturbances left a trail of destruction in buildings, churches and businesses. Shops and churches were vandalised as the rioters went on a looting spree.

On Wednesday, traders did not open their premises for fear of being attacked. Some matatu operators withdrew their vehicles from the roads to avoid damage.

Mombasa and Coast Tourist Association chairman Mohamed Hersi said there were no cancellation of bookings so far but warned that tourism goes hand in hand with stability.

“So far we have not received booking cancellations from our European source markets. However, if the situation is not brought under control it might affect bookings,” Mr Hersi said.

He asked the youth to end the riots, arguing that they would suffer job losses and lack of business if lawlessness persisted.

“If tourism goes down, the town’s economy will plummet while employers will be forced to lay off their staff,” he warned. Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers Coast vice-chairman Vikram Korla asked the government to issue a statement to assure holidaymakers and tour operators in traditional source markets that the situation was under control.

He said the Kenya Tourist Board should find ways to counter the bad publicity occasioned by the tension.

Mr Korla said uncertainty over the General Election and Al-Shabaab threats had already seen bed occupancy in South Coast drop to between 30 and 40 per cent.

The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mombasa County chairman James Mureu said the business community had suffered huge losses after the rioters broke into shops and looted merchandise.

Many of the traders, he said, had for the last three days been unable to open their shops for fear of attacks and looting of goods.

“We are yet to ascertain the loss the business community has suffered following the three-day chaos in Mombasa,” he said.

“But the damage to property and non-opening of businesses runs into millions of shillings. Businesspeople are in great fear.”
Mr Mureu appealed to the government to deal with the rioting youth firmly to stop further violence.
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