During the past 32 years, African Heritage has withstood a weakening economy and runaway crime in downtown Nairobi to supply locals and tourists with ethnic art, fashion and artifacts. But this month, it will shut its doors, the latest victim of Kenya’s crippled tourist trade. The final blow was a decision last month by British Airways to suspend flights to the Kenyan capital after intelligence reports said a terrorist strike by Al Qaeda operatives was imminent. The governments of Britain, the United States and several Scandinavian countries subsequently advised their citizens against traveling to Kenya, causing tourists to cancel hotel bookings and throwing thousands of people out of work. “This is the biggest kick in the teeth,” said Jake Grieves-Cook, chairman of the Kenya Tourism Federation, a trade group of hoteliers, lodge owners and tour operators. “It’s equivalent to leveling sanctions against Kenya.” Full Story
About OODA Analyst
OODA is comprised of a unique team of international experts capable of providing advanced intelligence and analysis, strategy and planning support, risk and threat management, training, decision support, crisis response, and security services to global corporations and governments.