More than 500 hotel workers in Kenya have already been reported jobless following a dramatic fall in tourism due to recent terror attacks.
Kiwayu Safari Village resort alone reported sending 120 of its workers home since gunmen stormed a palm-thatched hut at the resort and shot dead a British man before kidnapping his wife, taking her across the border to Somalia, on September 11.
It is thought that the gunmen had crept past six armed policemen and 22 security guards at the beach resort, located 30 miles from the border with Somalia.
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The latest attack occurred further south last week when an elderly, disabled French woman was kidnapped by an armed gang on the Kenyan resort island of Manda, and taken to Somalia, according to Kenyan officials.
A reduction in tourism to the area threatens the livelihoods of those people living on the island — almost all of whom work in or deal with the travel industry.
Hotel staff interviewed by Kenyan newspaper The Standard said their jobs were at stake as hoteliers were giving Lamu a wide berth following the kidnappings.
A government official in Lamu told The Standard a notice had been issued by the tourism ministry to hoteliers not to close their establishments as the action could trigger panic and have a long term effect on the industry.
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