Tourism big winner in direct flights deal

The resumption of flights to Kenya by German airliner Lufthansa after an 18-year absence is a boon to Kenya's ailing tourism sector, says Joseph Magutt, Kenya's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Federal Republic of Germany.

In a telephone interview, Mr Magutt said the resumption of flights to Nairobi by the airline, which will operate an Airbus A340 for the Frankfurt-Nairobi route, will add to Kenya's tourist arrivals.

He explained that unlike other European tourists, Germans are loyal. "The German tourists did not stay away from the country even when there was the so-called security scare," he said

The ambassador also revealed that the decision to resume flights was reached after high-level negotiations between the Kenyan and German embassies.

"This is a confidence boost to the Kenyan market which has had some security issues," Mr Magutt said. Terrorist attacks in the country have seen a number of countries issue travel advisories to their citizens.

Mr Magutt also reckoned that resumed flights will boost Kenya's horticultural business.