The tourism sector of the coastal region is set to benefit from the governments initiative of renouncing the landing fees for Charter Airlines that touch down at Moi International Airport, Mombasa Airport and Malindi Airport.
A total of Sh.1.2 billion have been given out by the government towards the initiative. This has been reached so as to enable the coastal region regain its name as the leading region in the field of tourism.
This move will see more tourist visiting the region as before and thus both the coastal and the country’s economy will be boosted. The programme is said to be in place up to June 2018 so as to give the industry enough recovering period.
The tourism sector at the coast has experienced great losses following the terror attacks that the country had been experiencing since 2013, which led to countries giving out travel advisories to their members who were already in the region due to insecurity.
Tourism Cabinet Secretary Mr. Najib Balala said that there are hopes that the move will be able to bring back lost business from tourist charter companies in what he termed as was to give incentives that will help in restoring Kenya’s tourism crown’.
Mr. Balala stated that if the government and stakeholders decide to work as one in reducing visitor costs then many tourists will be in a position to visit the region as before.
This came about after the CS disclosed that tourists visiting the coast are faced by the challenge of high costs which keeps them away from coming back to the region.
Balala added that the key things that need urgent attention to so as to attract both local and international tourist again in the region include security, infrastructure and valuable products.
The insecurity claims led to closing down of many businesses in the region and many people losing jobs. The economy went down by 7.5 per cent.
Article by Vera Shawiza.