Shadow of the pirates

Leading tour operators are beginning to slash prices on winter holidays to Kenya, as the threat posed by Somali pirates persuades some long-haul travellers to look elsewhere.

Although the Lamu archipelago, close to the northern coast of Kenya, is seen as the area of greatest risk, Kenyan authorities fear the country’s entire tourism industry is threatened by the attacks, blamed on militant Islamist groups.

At the World Travel Market this month, Kenyan Tourism Minister Najib Balala will assure visitors that Kenya remains a safe destination. The Government has already deployed helicopter surveillance around the Kenya-Somali border and extra police to guard hotels.

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Meanwhile, upmarket operator Abercrombie & Kent has announced savings up to £1,000 per couple on nine-day safaris that include visits to the Samburu National reserve and the Masai Mara, until mid-April. Prices start at £2,998 per person, though these reduced prices don’t apply in the Christmas/New Year peak period.

Bob Atkinson at travelsupermarket.com says: “Although British Foreign & Commonwealth office warnings only urge people to avoid the northern Kenyan coastline within 100 miles of the Somali border, and a specific distance inland, there is obviously a tendency to avoid Kenya altogether, even though areas around Mombasa remain fairly safe.

“Demand for beach holidays has dropped, with alternatives emerging, such as the Caribbean, Maldives, Goa, Seychelles, and Mauritius.

At Neilson Holidays (www.neilson.co.uk), overseas operation managing director Pip Tyler says: “Our centre at Kilifi lies about 35 miles north of Mombasa and a further 250 miles from the Somalia border to north – more than a hundred miles outside the Foreign & Commonwealth office’s exclusion zone.

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“All safari areas are obviously inland and therefore do not have increased risk due to the pirates’ activity.”

“The Mnarani Beachclub hotel has strong private security and doesn’t face the open sea. “We have 24-hour security at the beach area and have never experienced any issues,” Tyler adds.

Neilson Holidays, part of Thomas Cook Group, currently offers free safaris on all new bookings to Kenya, with prices from £629 for seven nights of winter sun this November, including flights, transfers, half-board accommodation, all-activity tuition and a safari.

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