By Yassin Juma
MOMBASA, Kenya
Stakeholders in Kenya's lucrative tourism industry are suffering a dearth of tourist arrivals in the country's coastal region – especially in the seaside city of Mombasa – after a security alert was issued following the discovery of an explosive-laden vehicle and a deadly attack on a local church last week.
"We are feeling the impact of insecurity on tourism," Mohamed Hersi, chairman of the Mombasa and Coast Tourists Association, told Anadolu Agency.
He confirmed that most hotels on the coast, a region renowned for its sandy beaches, have seen their bookings – for both tourists and conferences – put on hold.
"We are experiencing tough times at the coast," said Hersi, who is also CEO of the Heritage Group of Hotels.
Last week, gunmen attacked Mombasa's Joy in Jesus Church during a Sunday morning service. Six people were killed in the attack and a number of others injured.
The church attack came only days after Kenyan authorities announced that they had foiled a major terrorist plot after seizing two men driving an explosives-laden car through the coastal city.
Kenya has experienced a spate of attacks since sending troops to neighboring Somalia in 2011.
The East African state decided to deploy troops in troubled Somalia following a series of kidnappings of tourists, who were later executed by Somalia's militant Al-Shabaab group, from the Kenyan coast.
In recent months, Mombasa – which has an estimated population of 1.2 million, of which Muslims reportedly account for some 65 percent – has also witnessed some sectarian tension.
In February, a church was set ablaze by rioting youth following a spate of arrests at a local mosque. Ensuing clashes between police and angry Muslims left two of the latter and one police officer dead.
-Far-reaching-
Hersi urged the authorities to take the necessary measures to revive the crucial tourism industry.
"The mess should be sorted out now," he told AA. "The earlier we secure Mombasa and the coast, the better for tourism."
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has conceded that the security situation has taken a toll on the local tourism sector.
"Tourism has been greatly affected by these terror activities," he said Friday.
"The industry, which contributes 10 percent to the GDP, is virtually on its knees," Kenyatta told a delegation of Kenyan Somalis at the State House.
Although official figures for tourist arrivals for the first quarter of 2014 are yet to be released, the Kenya Tourism Board estimates a 15-percent decline from the same period last year – which translates into losses worth millions of dollars.
"This is not only a problem for the hoteliers," insisted Hersi. "Thousands of livelihoods depend directly or indirectly on tourism."
Tourism is the second largest source of foreign currency in Kenya, an East Africa economic powerhouse. It employs up to 150,000 people, according to the Kenya Tourism Board.
Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho says his County Council is working hard to restore security in Kenya's second largest city.
"We have had to deploy more tourist police to assure the safety of the tourists," he told AA.
"I recently contributed vehicles to the police for patrols," the governor added. "And plans are underway for the installation of CCTV on the streets of Mombasa."
"This is not the first time tourism has been affected, but we always find a way to have tourists come back to our beautiful beaches and the friendly people of Mombasa," an optimistic Joho asserted.
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