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US eases travel warning to Kenya
2008-03-25 09:23:35
By Nairobi
In a move that could boost the tourism sector that was adversely affected by the post-election violence, the United States has relaxed its travel warning to Kenya.
The US Department of State says the move follows the signing of a power sharing deal between President Mwai Kibaki and ODM leader Raila Odinga that ended weeks of violence in the country.
``Threats of political demonstrations and violence have dramatically receded following the widely accepted power-sharing agreement signed on February 29``, the department said.
It said it was further reviewing the resumption of US Peace Corps programme through which volunteers travel abroad to work in various fields to help the host country.
The programme was suspended in February this year following the skirmishes that erupted after the December 27 polls.
The Department however cautions its citizens to be careful and be on the lookout for crime prone areas.
Meanwhile Kenyans have taken up offers by some hotels of reduced charges to visit the tourist sites in a move that was welcomed by the operators in the tourism industry.
Some hotels in Naivasha had to hire tents to accommodate guests following an influx of tourists who celebrated Easter there.
Many hotels had special packages for the Easter festivities resulting in more local tourists visiting the town.
Hoteliers expressed optimism that the industry was now picking after the adverse effects of post eklection clashes.
Lake Naivasha Country Club General Manager Gomery Kombo said the hotel was fully booked forcing them to refer some guests to other hotels.
He said a 20% reduction in rates had brought in more tourists.
Kombo said local hotels, which were the worst hit by the violence two months ago, had experienced booking cancellations and had to retrench some workers.
He however said the high Easter bookings are a sign that the industry was set to regain its status as the July-August peak season approaches.
Jack Chin, a Chinese tourist, said Naivasha had proved to be a great tourist destination and people should visit the area as normalcy had returned.
He said a group of Chinese tourists ignored warnings that the country was not peaceful and decided to hold a vacation in Naivasha.
Boat trainers and riders at Lake Naivasha said business was good and some were forced to work extra hours to meet increased demand.
Peter Gachangi of Cray Fish Camp said the hotel was fully booked and they had to hire tents to accommodate extra guests.
He says the hotel, which specializes in camping, had received a large number of local tourists, an indication that Kenyans were enjoying local tourism.
He said they were forced to reduce package rates and introduce activities for children during Easter to show that Naivasha had regained its status after the post-poll violence.
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