Malindi and Lamu were left out of the travel advisories lifted yesterday, meaning Britons will still maintain only essential travel to these two areas, denying the tourist towns the much needed visitors to boost tourism.
The British government lifted travel advisories for Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale offering the hospitality industry a shot in the arm. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) downgraded its the travel warnings issued last year on the regions following a series of terrorist attacks in Mombasa at its environs.
Kenya Tourism Board praised the move. Kenya’s coastline offers about 500kms of pristine Indian ocean beaches and the following areas will now be open UK travellers: Watamu Kilifi, Mtwapa, Shanzu, Bamburi, Mombasa Isalnd, Nyali , Likoni , Tiwi , Diani, Galu beaches , kinondo , Msambwein , Funsi , shomoni and Wasini Island which boasts of a rich marine park.
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Kenya received 117, 201 visitors from the UK in 2014. The drop in arrivals compared to 149,699 in 2013 is attributed largely to the 14 month ban on non-essential travel.
Mr Muriithi Ndegwa, the managing director of Kenya Tourism Board, said: ” While our operators have continued to send their guests to the southern areas of the coast including Diani, Wasini and Msambweni we look forward to welcoming guests back to Mombasa and the beautiful coastline of Watamu and Kilifi.”
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