By Charo Charles
Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com
The Kenyan tourism sector is expected to rise significantly after the government streamlined the process of licencing new airlines which will allow more companies to fly into the skies and bring in more tourists in the country.
Tourism and wildlife cabinet secretary Rebbeca Miano said over the last couple of months new airlines had been licensed.
Speaking during the official opening of the fourth Uganda-Kenya Coast Tourism Conference and Exhibition at the Ocean Beach Resort and Spa in Malindi, she said on Monday Turkish airline got a new frequency into Mombasa, and welcomed Fly Dubai.
“We have a direct connection Angola and Kenya, Saudi Arabia, an increased frequency by the Emirates, British Airways, a lot of work is being done we have streamlined the policies of licencing but I want to assure you the guidance we have been given in order to meet the stretched target is that we shall consistently consider the applications with a view to supporting visitors to be able to access Kenya.”
The CS said discussions are going on between stakeholders and Kilifi and National government to complete the process of expanding the Malindi international Airport.
She said Uganda-Kenya Coast Tourism Conference and Exhibition whose theme this year is ‘Leveraging Youth, Innovation and technology for responsive and inclusive tourism’ was one of the important forums they have in tourism and plan to come up with circuits so as to promote Uganda tourism attractions and the Kenyan coast.
“We have had good discussions we are looking at Uganda not as competitors but collaborators so that we can have integrations, joint marketing and we also come up with circuits so that when a traveller come from their origin to east Africa we can have a package for Uganda and Kenya,”
She said they intend to partner with youth so as to become their collaborators in marketing tourism using the social media.
Kilifi governor Gideon Mung’aro, who was the host, said as governors from Kenyan Coast they started the collaboration with Uganda to market tourism regionally.
He said, currently, there was a Single Visa in Africa and the potential was so big in terms of tapping into the rich tourism market in the continent for tourism.
The governor said there was need to expand the Malindi international Airport for Kilifi to feel skies have been opened.
“The Skies have been opened but we can feel it when tourists can land directly from their destinations to Malindi.”
He said his administration has embarked on a digital marketing program where they will use the youth to promote tourism products available in the county .
Ambassador Paul Mukumbya consulate general of the Republic of Uganda in Mombasa said their collaboration was meant to promote complementarity whereby tourist is able to plan an itenary that will include the Kenyan Coast and Uganda.
Ugandan tourism ambassador Esther Akoth, popularly known as Akothee, said its time youth invested on the social media to market tourism and generate income and stop misusing it.
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