Players in the tourism sector have asked the Government to reviews bilateral ties with countries that promote illegal trade in ivory.
The over 30 groups led by Mombasa and Coast Tourism Association yesterday held demonstrations in Mombasa to condemn the rising cases of the vice.
MCTA chairman Mohamed Hersi in a joint memorandum presented to Coast PC and Kenya Wildlife Service said the ready market in China, Thailand and Philippines was a recipe for continued killing of wildlife in Kenya.
Hersi said with Kenya’s wildlife at risk of elimination by poachers, the survival of tourism sector is equally at risk. “We ask the government to review our bilateral relations with China, Thailand and Philippines who are reluctant to stop ivory carvings and factories in their backyards,” said Hersi in a joint statement signed by the organisations
Hersi added, “If these countries can hang drug dealers, why not ivory smugglers and traders?” The players including travel agencies, tour companies, beach hotels and tour operators said “our message to the Far East is, please leave our rhino alone. Its horn has no medicinal value nor is it an aphrodisiac.”
The Kenya Association of Tour Operators, Kenya Association of Hotel Keepers, Kenya Wildlife Clubs and African Network of Animal Welfare took part in the demonstration. Travel groups, among them Pollman’s Agency and Ketty Tours also participated in the demonstration.
Far East has provided a ready market for the illegal business with almost each container nabbed at the Mombasa port said to be destined to the region.
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