United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
TravelMole Interview: Nigel Vere Nicoll, chief executive, ATTA
The African Travel and Tourism Association (ATTA) is leading calls for a change in the way Foreign & Commonwealth Office country advice is compiled and communicated following the damage that recent warnings have inflicted on Kenya’s tourism industry.
ATTA chief executive Nigel Vere Nicoll believes there should be an advisory panel of representatives from the travel industry at the FCO, with delegates representing continents rather than countries to make the process more manageable.
According to Mr Vere Nicoll 500,000 jobs in Kenya and 13% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product depend on tourism. He argues that while the FCO had a duty to act on intelligence information in order to safeguard its citizens there is a need for a new crisis management strategy to be put in place so that tourism is not needlessly affected.
Mr Vere Nicoll told TravelMole:”What we are saying is we would like there to be an international non-political risk assessment. If there is going to be a warning we need to know in advance so plans can be put into place so you don’t get the hysterical scenario where switchboards are jammed and people are desperately worried about clients and friends.”
He added: ”The experience of Kenya was by no means unique. The impact of specific and non-specific terrorist m threats on countries that depend on tourism is just dire. Places like Britain and the USA can survive and recover from the damage, but emerging markets can’t.”
See this week’s comment by Jeremy Skidmore: Foreign Office advice needs to be clearer
Related News Stories:
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
Craig Ray and the Expansion of the Blues Trail
Presenting Mississippi’s Cultural Trails with Katie Coats
Robert Terrell: A Journey Through BB King’s Influence
Rochelle Hicks: Celebrating Mississippi’s Musical Legacy
Exploring Jacksonville with Katie Mitura: The Flip Side of Florida
Tricia Handley-Hughes of Inteletravel announces the location for the TravelQuest 2025 conference
Insights from James Ferrara on Inteletravel’s Growth and Future
Tricia Handley-Hughes on Inteletravel’s Growth and Challenges
Tony from Gatto’s Pizza on Columbus’s Unique Pizza Trail
Sophia Hyder Hock on Global Social Inclusion in Tourism
Woman dies after getting ‘entangled’ in baggage carousel
Dozens fall ill in P&O Cruises ship outbreak
BA pilot dies during layover
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
Boy falls to death on cruise ship