Industry dealt further blow by terrorism alerts

THE travel industry has been dealt another hammer blow as heightened terrorism alerts and further SARS warnings compound this summer’s sales slump.

Operators to Kenya have demanded an immediate rethink of Foreign and Commonwealth Office advice against non-essential travel to the country, claiming it will have a “devastating effect” on tourism. The warning came after intelligence reported a possible threat to British Airways services in and out of Nairobi.

Somak Holidays managing director Stuart Britton said improvements in security at Kenya’s airports meant the travel ban – and the subsequent suspension of BA flights – were punishing the African country for preventing an incident.

“We are working hard to get the advice amended,” he said. “The longer-term affects could be devastating.”

A total of 63 countries around the world now have full or partial travel bans imposed by either the UK, US, German or Australian governments, highlighting the perceived danger to Western travellers.

US specialists at Pow Wow in St Louis claimed holidaymakers were increasingly calling for reassurance after the country raised its alert status to orange, fearing al-Qaeda attacks at the weekend.

North African operators, however, claim resilient Brits have not been put off visiting Morocco after a series of suicide bombs in Casablanca.