TOUR operators in the Ipswich area were today helping people due to fly to trouble-torn Kenya to find alternative holiday destinations.

TOUR operators in the Ipswich area were today helping people due to fly to trouble-torn Kenya to find alternative holiday destinations.

Travel agents said they had been forced to cancel a few holidays but had not had many New Year bookings for trips to the African country.

The Foreign Office has advised people to avoid all but essential travel to Kenya because of the violence.

Louise Tweed, group retail manager for Fred Olsen Travel, which has offices in Ipswich and Felixstowe, said: “The situation is changing day by day and we are relying on guidance from the Foreign Office as to what to tell customers.

“I am aware of a couple of customers who have had to change their arrangements and where that is happening people are offered alternative destinations so while they may be disappointed at not going to Kenya, they will still be going on holiday.

“Alternatively, they could just decide to postpone their plans and see if the situation improves in a few months' time.”

Clare Aitchison, director of TravelQuest in Church Street, Woodbridge, said: “We are fortunate that TravelQuest do not currently have any clients in Kenya at present, but any holidaymakers currently in Kenya will be being kept up to date by their tour operator representatives and should have the option to return home should they wish to.

“In situations such as these, tour operators usually allow holidaymakers who are booked to travel imminently to have the option to either cancel or rearrange their trip for a later date. Our advice would be to stay in close contact with your travel agent for updates.”

A spokeswoman for Harvey World Travel in the Buttermarket, Ipswich, said: “We are still waiting information from the Foreign Office and will be guided by what they have to say.”

Lisa Adams, manager of Travelcare, Hamilton Road, Felixstowe, said: “We are telling people to avoid non-essential travel to Kenya but I think most people realise what is happening from what they are seeing on the news.

“It is not somewhere you can make a snap decision to visit - most trips are pre-planned because you need a visa and injections. I don't think we have any customers due to head there at the moment.”

The Federation of Tour Operators has advised agents to suspend holidays to Kenya for the next two days and is assessing the need to make alternative travel arrangements for Britons already on holiday there.