Without Kenya Airways There is no Tourism – Tourism CS

Kenya’s Tourism Ministry says without the national carrier there is no tourism which accounts for 9 percent of the nation’s GDP.

Najib Balala, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Tourism in an exclusive interview with Kenya Airways’ August issue of Msafiri – the in-fight magazine, he explains how it is important for the country to work together with other countries in the region to help travellers flow between destinations.  He says KQ’s extensive African network is instrumental in achieving the goal.

Read:

• Kenyan Hospitality Industry to Grow at 6.1pc to 2020
• 60 percent of Kenya Airways Revenue Comes from Africa

“People want to come to Africa to more than one country and if they can have one free flow in terms of travel without any bureaucracy. I think we need to work together as a region.”

I think we need to remove the fears of competition. Competition is healthy when it allows innovation. Competition is destructive when we start undermining each other.  Our competitors are all the long haul destinations that are not closer to us and we need to come together united and be able to sell Africa as a continent with individual countries later,” he added.

Read: Jambojet, Kenya Airways sign codeshare agreement

As regard to Kenya Airways, this he had to say:

“Kenya Airways is a major partner for tourism. Without Kenya Airways, without a national carrier, there is no tourism. Without an airline hub in a country, there is no tourism and also, Kenya Airways brings almost 4.5million visitors into the country.

“We cannot ignore partners as powerful as Kenya Airways. I want to encourage Kenya Airways to sell the destination Kenya so that we use Kenya as a springboard for the rest of Africa.”

Read the August Issue of Msafiri for the full interview.