Tourism CS Slashes Costs for Coast Visitors to Boost Tourism

Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala has unveiled a Ksh1.2bn Charter Incentive Program for Kenya (CIP) aimed at reducing tourist costs and recovering lost business from tourist charter companies, saying “it is time to give incentives to our visitors to help restore Kenya’s tourism crown.”

CS Balala has given coastal hoteliers and tour operators a much needed boost as he waived landing fees at Mombasa and Malindi airport for Charter Airlines and offered sh. 3,069 per person charter flight subsidy for all Charter flights landing at the coast with a minimum 80% manifest.

The Landing Fee waiver applies to Moi International Airport, Mombasa and Malindi Airport.

It will begin in January 2016 and last for 18 months until June 2018. It is an important incentive aimed at boosting and stimulating Charter Airlines to fly to the Kenyan coast. 

“One of the challenges we face in stimulating a coastal tourism recovery is the relatively high costs experienced by our visitors. It is a simple fact that it is often cheaper to go somewhere else,” said the CS

He called upon the government and industry stakeholders to work hand in hand to reduce visitor costs not only to attract tourists at the Kenyan Coast but to also leave the visitors satisfied with the services they get.

 Though he admitted that the number of visitors touring the country had reduced he disclosed that in the beginning of the new year his ministry will publish the Task Force Report on Tourism and unveil a Tourism Strategy to boost the numbers once more

With an array of global statesmen visiting the country this year 2015 the year when President Obama, Pope Francis as well as the ongoing World Trade Organization meeting, Balala expressed confidence that it will have great impact in the Tourism Sector as well as the country’s economy.

Article by Shillah Mwadosho.