Local tourists at the Jomo Kenyatta public beach in Mombasa. [Photo/ pri.org]
Politicians in the country have been urged to maintain unity and peaceful co-existence so as to protect the tourism sector at the Coast.Kenya Coast Tourist Association CEO Julius Owino said the tourism sector will only flourish in an environment that is peaceful and conducive to all.Speaking in Mombasa on Monday evening, Owino said the political situation in the country was taking longer than expected and has since caused animosity.Owino said the unexpected situation has resulted in some tourists from foreign countries among them the US, London, France, Germany and Belgium cancelling their bookings over the fear of political violence being witnessed in the country.He appealed to politicians across the divide to preach and maintain peace, arguing that the tourism sector highly depends on the calmness in the country.“If dialogue is what will solve the political standoff let our politicians embrace it since the tourism sector has faced various challenges since the beginning of the year,” said Owino.Owino said though the Coast region was not affected by the political bickering that has been witnessed since the August 8 general election, the unpredicted situation may result into poor bookings during the December holidays, which is considered a high season in the tourism sector.“We are not affected at the Coast but what’s being shown in the international media may cost us the benefits of the high season this year,” he added.Owino said if politicians embraced peace and preached the same to residents, the region will remain calm and the number of tourists flocking the region during the high season will increase.He warned that if the political infighting persists, then the country will lose its tourism glory to Zanzibar where most tourist head whenever there is political instability in Kenya.