Delegates attending the ongoing 79th Skal World Congress in Mombasa see a brighter future for Kenya’s tourism in terms of arrivals especially with the much-awaited launch of direct flights from Nairobi to New York.

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The delegates, majority of whom were on their maiden visit to the country, hailed Kenya as a unique and irresistible destination for any international visitor, adding that with innovation and investing more on the tourism, the sector is likely to reach greater heights.

The four-day conference has attracted more than 500 tourism and hospitality agents across the globe and is expected to be officially opened today by Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala.

Skal World Congress is headquartered in Spain, and is holding the global tourism event in Africa for the first time since its establishment in 1934. 

The conference further comes as a major boost to the tourism sector along Kenya’s coast, besides being an endorsement of the destination as safe for tourism business.

Kenya received ratification at the 78th Skål International World Congress in Hyderabad, India on October 7, 2017, to host the Skål International World Congress 2018 in Mombasa after it was cancelled in 2015 due to insecurity.

Statistics from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics indicate robust growth in accommodation and food service activities in the first quarter of 2018 but comparably slower than the level realised in the corresponding quarter of last year.

During the quarter, the sector is estimated to have expanded by 13.5 per cent compared to 24.5 per cent growth recorded in the first quarter of 2017, which was mainly on account of a rebound experienced in that quarter.

“The sector’s performance is stabilising following reform initiatives, restored security and investment opportunities in the sector,” KNBS data states. 

During the review period, accommodation activities greatly improved, evidenced by the increase in the hotel occupancy level.