Mombasa and Kenya coast  has over 40,000 hotels beds and that does not include all the Airbnbs. In the olden days golden years of tourism until 2011/2 Moi International Airport was receiving 39 charter  flights ✈ per week.

Due to changing trends charters is a slowing concept and more and more travelers are now opting for scheduled  flights . The bad news is that scheduled  flights are being denied the license to fly to  Mombasa. The sad bit is that even scheduled flights pre covid have been denied the license hence our appeal that this must be changed to help more airlines to serve Mombasa.  Most international ttavellers would prefer to fly direct to Mombasa since majority avoid going through Nairobi. 

We humbly appeal to the the new goverment to give this matter  top priority since in the manifesto  of Kenya Kwanza is keen to create jobs and tourism is the easiest vehicle to achieve that goal. Open skies have changed the fortune of Morocco where in less than 10 years they jumped from 2 million tourists to 12 million tourist arrivals . Dying Durban  city and Cape Town their fortunes changed for the better once South Africa allowed Open skies . Both Durban and Cape Town  are now leading MICE destination. 

In the absence of charter flights 39 per week we have had none good part of 2022 then we must push for scheduled flights .

Kenya coast farmers are also losing out on export of fruits ,fish even meat when the cargo section at Moi International Airport is all but dead. The scheduled flights into the heart if Europe and Middle East means a chance to sell to the huge market that exists in those region.

As a country we need foreign exchange and one of the key ways to do that is to promote international tourism and also support exporters of fresh products . Nairobi is busy handling flowers and vegetables Mombasa and Kenya coast  will be delighted to share the fruits and fish and sea food with the rest of the world.

Kenya is a net importer our economy badly needs that hard currency be it the $€£. It is the lifeline of any economy. 

Mohammed Hersi

Chairman

Diani Hospitality Owners Association