Over the past few weeks I have been watching the political crisis in Kenya closely simply because Kenya has been Africa’s flagship of stability for quite a while and also because of Kenya’s dominance of the African tourism industry. With all the violence and intense upheaval, I thought that shining some hope on the country would keep us travelers from turning away from such a beautiful place.

It is not far fetched to say that when people think of African art and an African safari people are thinking of Kenya, that when the west thinks of African tribes they think of the Masai tribe. This cultural projection is the result of having the raw materials of a huge tourism industry; stunning flora and fauna coupled with beautiful cultures. This is why I believe Kenya cannot be ignored and, given the right conditions will be able to restore itself as an African tourism center in no time.

It comes down to access and infrastructure. These two factors, I believe, will benefit from the international exposure which Kenya has. Having been one of the more politically stable countries in Africa, Kenya has been able to position itself as a major logistical and economic center in East Africa. Transportation of many goods pass through Kenya as well as military supplies. The current state of the country is disrupting the operations of both.

At moment, the turmoil is holding back UN peacekeepers that are intended to be deployed to Somalia because of fuel supplies which are typically brought through Kenya. In addition, Kenya has positioned itself as an ally to the US in the war on terrorism, providing the US with suspected terrorists and allowing the US military access into the country. Kenya also allows the US armed forces the use of its military bases for training and operations. It is this exposure that lures leaders from western nations to try and encourage a resolution to the electoral disputes and will undoubtedly succeed.

So where does this leave tourism? The tourism industry will come roaring back to life once the political turmoil has passed. Countries like England will lift travel bans and will allow its citizens to return. Fewer regulations on businesses and foreign investment will be imposed in an effort to rebuild infrastructure on almost every level. Overall, things will get back to normal, but travelers must not be afraid to go back to Kenya.

It is one of the most prized destinations on many travelers’ “Must Go To” list and should be kept that way.