Beach operators area a major hindrance to
tourism, industry players have said. Tourism players said complaints of
harassment made by tourists are on the increase.
Kenya Hotel Keepers and Caters Association North Coast chairman Phillip Chai said currently, some hotels were having between 40 to 60 per cent bookings expected to end after the Easter holidays. Chai said charters will stop flying to Kenya after the Easter season which will force hotels to close business until August. He said majority of the tourists prefer to visit in the country side than the beaches because of the influx of beach boys who were harassing them.
Speaking in Malindi, Chai said the operators confront tourists along the beaches sometimes abusing them if they refused to buy their wares. "Tourists fear to go to the beaches for fear of being harassed," he said. Chai added that said they have had several meetings with the provincial administration and the police over the matter but no solution has been arrived.
He said working in groups shall help them take responsibility of the area and take action against any stranger who would be seen harassing tourists," he said. "If they work in groups it will be easier for them to arrest people who harass tourists to ensure there are smooth operations in the beaches," he said. The hotel keepers and Caterers Chairman also asked the Kenya Wildlife Service to monitor all the marine reserves to ensure there is peace in the beaches. In Bamburi beach Mombasa he said the KWS had helped streamline operations and created a proper environment for the tourists.
Story Courtesy of http://allafrica.com/stories/201203170012.html
Kenya Hotel Keepers and Caters Association North Coast chairman Phillip Chai said currently, some hotels were having between 40 to 60 per cent bookings expected to end after the Easter holidays. Chai said charters will stop flying to Kenya after the Easter season which will force hotels to close business until August. He said majority of the tourists prefer to visit in the country side than the beaches because of the influx of beach boys who were harassing them.
Speaking in Malindi, Chai said the operators confront tourists along the beaches sometimes abusing them if they refused to buy their wares. "Tourists fear to go to the beaches for fear of being harassed," he said. Chai added that said they have had several meetings with the provincial administration and the police over the matter but no solution has been arrived.
He said working in groups shall help them take responsibility of the area and take action against any stranger who would be seen harassing tourists," he said. "If they work in groups it will be easier for them to arrest people who harass tourists to ensure there are smooth operations in the beaches," he said. The hotel keepers and Caterers Chairman also asked the Kenya Wildlife Service to monitor all the marine reserves to ensure there is peace in the beaches. In Bamburi beach Mombasa he said the KWS had helped streamline operations and created a proper environment for the tourists.
Story Courtesy of http://allafrica.com/stories/201203170012.html
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