An investor has said the negative publicity of the Coast by the foreign media is hurting tourism. Funzi Keys Island resort proprietor Alessandro Torriani said tourism is bearing the brunt of negative reporting mainly from the foreign media.

"Europe is very sensitive and reacts immediately to any bad reports being relayed back. They always think Kenya is at war," he said.

"The sector here at the Coast rely solely on European market especially the Scandinavian countries," said Torriani in Mombasa yesterday.

"Most of what is being reported in the foreign media has been blown out of proportion and this is killing the sector especially at this time when the sector is moving towards the high season."

Torriani called on the foreign press to desist from biased reporting lest the whole sector crumble down to its knees. He also decried the many legal formalities required before setting up a hotel in Kenya.