By Macharia Kamau
Britain has revised its travel advisory to Kenya and now limits travel by its citizens to within 60 kilometres of Kenya-Somalia border. The review relaxes a travel warning issued in October last year, which cautioned British citizens against travelling within 150km from the Somali boarder.
The latest travel advisory means tourists can travel to Lamu Island and other parts of the Kenyan coast that were deemed off limit for tourists after the October warning.
It is expected to boost travel to Kenya, as the tourism industry approaches the peak season that runs from July through October. Key attraction during this period is the wildebeest migration in Masai Mara that sees millions of the animals cross over to the Mara from Serengeti in Tanzania.
“We now advise against all but essential travel to within 60km of the Somali border (including Kiwayu and coastal areas north of Pate Island,” said the British Foreign Office in a notice issued May
1.The industry body, Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF), said that while threats to national security are at a probable all time high, tourism industry and government security agencies were working to increase security awareness.
“The Kenya tourism industry continues to maintain high security vigilance and visitors in the recent past will attest to the fact that security awareness at touristic locations is much higher than before,” said Agatha Juma, KTF Chief Executive.
“We wish to reassure all intending visitors that tourism establishments will continue to maintain the current high security awareness and we encourage you to proceed with your travel plans as intended.”
