The government of Kenya has urged the United Kingdom (UK) to permit direct flights to Mombasa in a bid to promote tourism.
Speaking at the English Point Marina during the unveiling of the British Chamber of Commerce Coast Branch, Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) Chairman Jimi Kariuki, said the withdrawal of UK charters has dealt the tourism sector in the region a big blow.
According to Kariuki, the tourism sector has never recovered since the UK government ordered for the withdrawal of the charters in 2014.
He noted that reliable flights to the Coast region will restore the hopes of investors in the region.
“Whereas the direct route between London and Nairobi is well serviced by Kenya Airways and British Airways, our coastal destinations are not and therefore there is an urgent need for the launch of direct flights from the UK to the Kenyan coast,” he said, as quoted by Baraka FM.
The decision to stop flights to the Coast came in the wake of perceived insecurity as a result of increased cases of terror attacks from the al-Shabaab militia group.
The number of tourists who visited the nation from the UK between January and November last year was 88,390 as compared to 90,046 from the United States of America.