The Federation of Tour Operators has postponed making a decision over whether or not to lift its current members’ ban on travel to Kenya until this afternoon.
Director general Andy Cooper said the decision was put off from yesterday as there are no charter flights to the destination until Friday while the situation in the country, where politically-driven riots have left more than 300 dead, appears to be settling.
However, the FTO must wait until the Foreign and Commonwealth Office lifts its current advisory against travel to the country in order to lift its own ban. The FCO is unlikely to do this until positive steps are made between the warring political parties to settle the present tinder-box situation.
Rioting, which has also left 250,000 people homeless as they fled the troubles, broke out following last month’s rigged elections which saw President Kibaki re-elected. Around 2,000 UK tourists are currently on holiday country while operators are flying home customers in accordance with their itineraries.