The Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) has called for the introduction of direct scheduled flights from the United Kingdom (UK) to Mombasa so as to boost tourist arrivals from the important source market into the coastal region.
There have been no direct flights from the UK to Mombasa following the abrupt withdrawal of UK Charters from the route, leading to an immediate reduction in tourist arrivals to Kenya from the UK.
The call was made by KTB chair Jimi Kariuki at the English Point Marina in Mombasa during the launch of the British Chamber of Commerce Coast Branch and also noted that good air accessibility is key to the success of long-haul tourism destinations.
“Whereas the direct route between London and Nairobi is well serviced by Kenya Airways and British Airways, our coastal destinations are not and therefore there is an urgent need for the launch of direct flights from the UK to the Kenyan coast. We will continue to engage with the three key airlines; Kenya Airways, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, to urge them to seriously consider launching a direct flight from the UK to Mombasa,” Mr Kariuki said.
The UK is Kenya’s second leading international tourism source market after U.S. Over the period January-November 2016, tourist arrivals into Kenya from the UK stood at 88,390, whereas over the same period arrivals from the USA stood at 90,046.
