President Uhuru Kenyatta taking an oath of office at Kasarani Stadium on November 28, 2017. [Photo/dispatch.ug]
A section of stakeholders in the tourism industry has lauded President Uhuru Kenyatta’s recent order to allow travellers from different African counties to obtain visas upon arrival in the country. The stakeholders said the move will boost the tourism sector, which has continued to suffer from a number of challenges over years. Led by Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC) Coast Branch Executive Officer Sam Ikwaye, the stakeholders said Uhuru deserves being lauded for the decision. Ikwaye said the new directive will enable more tourists from neighbouring landlocked nations to visit the country.“We anticipate more Africans, especially from the landlocked countries, to come to the Coast for leisure holidays,” said Ikwaye.His sentiments were echoed by Kenya Coast Tourism Association Chairman Victor Shitakha and Diani Reef Beach Resort Managing Director Bobby Kamani who said the move is a great milestone in the tourism industry.Shitakha also said that the government now needs to open up the skies to ensure ease of travel by tourists from different parts of Africa.“As a result of the regional airlines flying to Mombasa, hotels in the region have been receiving tourists from Rwanda, Ethiopia, Uganda, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Ghana and Nigeria,” said Shitakha.On his part, Kamani said the new order will make it easier to market Diani in different parts of the continent.