HL Deb 06 October 2003 vol 653 cc26-7WA
Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in the light of the recent ban on direct flights by United Kingdom airlines to Nairobi and Mombasa this summer, they have any estimate of the cost to the Kenyan economy in terms of (a) lost revenues from tourism and (b) jobs, which have resulted from the ban. [HL4314]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

We have no figures available on the cost to the Kenyan economy of the recent flight ban. Our top priority is the security of UK travellers. But we do not underestimate the negative impact on the Kenyan tourist industry and hope that the lifting of the ban on flights by UK airlines to Nairobi and Mombasa will quickly restore lost revenues and job opportunities in the industry.