The Government has been challenged to open its skies to regional airlines to boost local tourism.
Speaking during the Single Tourist Awareness Sensitisation Programme in Kisumu, tourism stakeholders also asked the Government to establish regional hubs to tap into visitors making their ways to the region, to boost growth of the sector.
In an effort to boost regional tourism, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda introduced usage of the single tourist visa and IDs in 2014 to facilitate easy movement of visitors in the regions as wider plans to boost the ailing sector.
Despite its introduction in January, only 4,000, according to the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) have managed to travel in what industry players blamed on the high cost of air ticket as well as lack awareness on the products.
Led by Kenya Association of Hotel Keepers and Caterers CEO Mike Macharia, stakeholders said the sector, which is ripe and could take advantage of local tourists pouring into the region, is ailing due to strict regulations by regional governments.
READ MORE
Safety is the implicit licence to operate in aviation
Malaysia says search for long-missing flight MH370 to resume
KQ staff in Sh59 million heroin case jailed for 25 years, fined Sh356 million
KQ partners with Blueberry Travel in emissions offset initiative, plants 308 trees
“We need to encourage private airlines to enter into the business. Although we want to be proud to own Kenya Airways, we still need to open up the market to other players,” he said.
“If Ethiopian or Nigerian airlines wants to bring their planes, they should be allowed. We want competition to reduce travelling costs.”
