Why no one's going to Timbuctu these days

Tourism, the livelihood of hundreds of thousands of people in the West African country of Mali, has ground to a halt.    

Since the coup in March and the subsequent occupation of the north by al-Qaida linked militants Mali has virtually become a no-go zone for visitors.

The impact on the economy and people’s lives is profound.  Tamasin Ford reports from the historic city of Segou, 250kms north of the capital, Bamako.

To listen to this report, please click on this link to NPR's website