Tourism chiefs dump Kenya for Spain over safety concerns

AFRICA – The world’s largest travel and tourism organisation has switched its annual congress from Mombasa to the Costa del Sol, due to safety fears. The executive committee of Skal International, in conjunction with the Chairman of the Kenya Local Organising Committee, has decided that to hold a congress in the Kenyan capital is unviable. They fear that a quorum will not be reached as delegates will be put off by the travel advisory notices. The new venue for the 2015 World Congress in Costa del Sol will be announced by the end of May. A spokesperson for the Executive Committee of Skal International said: “On behalf of the Executive Committee and the membership, Skal International President, V. Salih Cene would like to extend their deepest gratitude and heartfelt thanks to the local organising committee for their tireless work over the past three years and more importantly for their compassion and understanding in the decision to postpone the 2015 event. “ Tony Clegg-Butt, chairman of the Local Organising Committee in Kenya said: “We are exceptionally disappointed that this year’s World Congress on the Beach has been postponed to 2018. Greater forces, totally beyond our control led to this decision being taken in concert with the executive committee of Skal International. My committee and I have worked tirelessly over the past four years to bring the world congress to Kenya. We so much wanted to showcase magical Kenya to you all.”