Corporate News
Tourists arrive at the Moi International Airport in Mombasa. The
government is negotiating with European charter airlines to resume
flights to Mombasa. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
By MATHIAS RINGA
In Summary
The national government is negotiating with European
charter airlines to resume flights to Mombasa to help revive the tourism
sector. Some of these airlines withdrew their flights to the coastal
town several months ago due to terrorism attacks and rising insecurity
in Lamu.
According to tourism players, charter flights have plummeted
to below 10 a week this year, compared to over 20 a week in the same
period last year, almost bringing the industry to its knees.
Hoteliers in Mombasa say international guests’
occupancy stands at between 10 per cent and 15 per cent compared to
between 30 and 40 per cent in the same period last year due to low
international visitor arrivals although it is now a high tourism season.
There is currently no single charter flight from
the United Kingdom to Mombasa yet the UK is the leading tourist source
market for the country.
Yesterday, East Africa Affairs, Commerce and
Tourism cabinet secretary Phyllis Kandie said the government has
contained insecurity at the Coast, a factor which contributed to the
tourism slump. She said calm had returned to Mombasa and Lamu and that
the government was holding talks with the airlines to return.
“The charter airlines pulled out of the route
because of the challenges of insecurity in Mombasa and other parts of
the region,” she said. “But we are glad that the government has
addressed the matter and we are negotiating with the airlines to fly
back to Mombasa,” she added.
She said the government had reduced landing fees to
win back the airlines, adding that the State would also hold talks
with Kenya Airways management for the introduction of direct flights
from European cities like London to Mombasa to boost international
tourist arrivals.
“Kenya Airways is in the taskforce which was set up
by the government to help revamp the sector. We are looking into the
possibility of our flag carrier introducing direct flights from our
major source markets in Europe to Mombasa to help uplift international
tourist arrivals at the Coast,” she said.
Ms Kandie however said Ethiopian Airlines and
Turkish Airlines which have direct flights from Addis Ababa and Istanbul
to Mombasa respectively were still bringing in some tourists from
Europe. She assured that the government would prioritise domestic
tourism to boost hotel occupancy.
She noted that the government was encouraging
conference tourism organisers to hold such events at the Coast to
cushion hotels against the international tourism drought. Ms Kandie said
the government was also working with counties to hold cultural and
music festivals to woo locals.
mringa@ke.nationmedia.com
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