Investors in Mombasa are now complaining that the rapid increase of tuk-tuks at the city centre is scaring tourists away.
The Kenya Coast Tourism Association chairman, Mohamed Hersi, expressed that the tricycles were causing thick traffic congestion making travelling in Mombasa a nightmare for tourists.
According to Mr Hersi, foreign visitors spend too much time on the road while heading to Shimba Hills Game Reserve, Tsavo East National Park, hotels in the North and the South Coast, which is not convenient for them, thus business is affected.
He noted that several tourists have missed flights at the Moi International Airport after being delayed on the road for hours.
Hotels are also finding it difficult to take tourists around the town owing to traffic snarl-ups.
The tourism investors are calling on the County Government to promptly solve the problem, noting that the high season begins mid-July.
“We want the county government to tackle the tuk tuk menace as they have become a major stumbling block to smooth flow of traffic,” Mr Hersi stated.
The tuk-tuks are also said to be making a lot of noise, forcing tourists to avoid the town for walks and sight-seeing.
