Charter incentive ups tourist numbers at Kenya’s Coast hotels

Italian tourists arrive at a rain-swept Moi International Airport, Mombasa, aboard a charter flight last month.

A Government initiative to increase charter flights into the country is bearing fruit following an increase in tourists from Europe to Mombasa.

The Charter Incentive Programme was launched last year to attract more direct flights to Mombasa after a lull in international tourist arrivals.

Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala, who unveiled the programme in 2015, said the programme aims to subsidise the cost of tourist acquisition - the marketing expenditure charter firms undertake on behalf of Kenya.

The initiative worth about Sh1.2 billion also seeks to stimulate demand for Kenya by new charters while encouraging charters already flying to the country to increase their route frequencies.

It rewards charter airlines that make long-term capacity growth commitments to bring tourists to experience Kenya’s beach product.

Tourist charter aircraft with passengers terminating at MIA and Malindi Airport get a waiver on landing fees for a period of two-and-a-half years.

They also get a passenger subsidy of $30 per seat filled by international passengers who terminate or disembark in Kenya over the same period.

As a result, Moi International Airport (MIA) now receives five charter flights per week from Italy, Poland and Germany.

Kenya Tourism Federation Chairman Mohamed Hersi said it was exciting to have the Coast teeming with guests.

“The Italian market is back and getting stronger. We hope the incoming Kilifi County Government can get its act together and move fast enough to fix teething problems like traffic gridlock at Mtwapa to ensure smooth traffic flow,” he said.

Steady flights

According to an itinerary seen by Weekend Business, ENT Charter flies in from Poland while Condor, the leading German leisure airliner, has been making steady flights from Germany three times a week on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Other charter flights touching down at MIA include Blue Panorama which flies into Mombasa originating from Italy via Zanzibar on Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Neos and Meridiana also from Italy on Wednesdays.

In the meantime, hotels and resorts in parts of Watamu and Malindi in Kilifi County have received more tourists on charter flights.

Industry marketer Kenya Tourism Board says international arrivals from January to April this year closed at 292,160 compared to 264,784 in 2016 – representing a 10.3 per cent increase in tourist inflows.

A spot check by Weekend Business in some beach hotels found them packed with tourists.

At the Jacaranda Beach Resort in Watamu, occupancy has shot to over 70 per cent. Most of the tourists arrived soon after the General Election.

Jacaranda Beach Resort Chairman Pasqualle Tirito said they are expecting the number of visitors to increase from September until December.

“As investors, we were worried about the outcome of the elections, but since there is relative calm, we are optimistic of increased arrivals from key source markets,” he said.