VOA标准英语2008年-Kenyan Tourism Hit Hard by Political Unrest, Vi

By Cathy Majtenyi
Masaai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
23 January 2008
 

Former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan is in Kenya trying to negotiate an end to that country's violent political crisis. The violence began last month during Kenya's disputed presidential elections and is blamed for the deaths of more than 650 people. The instability has dramatically affected¹ Kenya's economically important tourism industry. Cathy Majtenyi files this report for VOA on how tourism officials are coping.

The Mara Serena Safari² Lodge³ in the world-famous Masaai Mara National Reserve is normally heavily booked from late December through February.

But in the first few weeks of 2008, only about 35 percent of the lodge was occupied.

Peter Mbogua is the sales and marketing⁴ manager for Serena Hotels. He says this is typical of what is happening across the industry. "At one of our lodges⁵ in Tsavo, next week I have two days where I don't have a single client. That lodge would be enjoying an occupancy rate of about 85, 90 percent."

Riots in cities and towns across Kenya broke out shortly after the December 27th elections that opposition⁶ supporters say President Mwai Kibaki stole.

More than 5,000 tourists a week who were expected on charter flights beginning in January have canceled their bookings. "Planes are coming almost empty and picking the clients who are here (and) taking them out," Mbogua said.

This is a huge blow to Kenya, whose tourism industry pulls in about $1 billion a year. Some one million Kenyans are directly or indirectly⁷ employed in the tourism sector⁸.

Duncan Muriuki is chairman of the Kenya Association of Tour Operators. He estimates that at least half of the projected earnings⁹ for 2008 could be lost. "If we don't solve the problem, a clear 30 to 40 billion shillings [$500,000] could be lost and if not, the whole of the projected budget for tourism will be wiped off, of which case the whole industry with over half million direct employees will go home," he said.

Tourism officials say that travelers are safe because the unrest is largely confined to urban slums and other areas where visitors normally do not go.

That view is echoed by Debbie Shillitto, a Canadian who arrived at the height of the chaos¹⁰. She says, "From Nairobi we drove up to Mount Kenya and stayed at the mountain lodge. That was so nice. (We) saw a lot of wildlife and everybody was so friendly."

Tourism industry officials say it could take from six months to several years for Kenya's tourist trade to rebound¹¹, depending on when the political crisis is resolved.

Rose Musonye Kwena is the public relations manager of the Kenya Tourist Board. She says it took a lot of time, money and effort to put Kenya on the world map as a safe, friendly, beautiful tourist destination. "We were in the process of focusing on sustainability of this image and now we are back, we are back to 2002 where we have to again assure the tourism community that Kenya is really a destination to visit," she said.

Kwena says her board plans to ask the government for almost $31 million to restore Kenya's image.

1 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

2 safari   

n.远征旅行(探险、考察)；探险队，狩猎队

参考例句：

• When we go on safari we like to cook on an open fire.我们远行狩猎时，喜欢露天生火做饭。
• They went on safari searching for the rare black rhinoceros.他们进行探险旅行，搜寻那稀有的黑犀牛。

3 lodge   

v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆

参考例句：

• Is there anywhere that I can lodge in the village tonight?村里有我今晚过夜的地方吗？
• I shall lodge at the inn for two nights.我要在这家小店住两个晚上。

4 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

5 lodges   

v.存放( lodge的第三人称单数 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属

参考例句：

• But I forget, if I ever heard, where he lodges in Liverpool. 可是我记不得有没有听他说过他在利物浦的住址。 来自辞典例句
• My friend lodges in my uncle's house. 我朋友寄居在我叔叔家。 来自辞典例句

6 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

7 indirectly   

adv.间接地，不直接了当地

参考例句：

• I heard the news indirectly.这消息我是间接听来的。
• They were approached indirectly through an intermediary.通过一位中间人，他们进行了间接接触。

8 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

9 earnings   

n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得

参考例句：

• That old man lives on the earnings of his daughter.那个老人靠他女儿的收入维持生活。
• Last year there was a 20% decrease in his earnings.去年他的收入减少了20%。

10 chaos   

n.混乱，无秩序

参考例句：

• After the failure of electricity supply the city was in chaos.停电后，城市一片混乱。
• The typhoon left chaos behind it.台风后一片混乱。

11 rebound   

v.弹回；n.弹回，跳回

参考例句：

• The vibrations accompanying the rebound are the earth quake.伴随这种回弹的振动就是地震。
• Our evil example will rebound upon ourselves.我们的坏榜样会回到我们自己头上的。