· The resumption of flights of leading airlines like Kenya Airways, Uganda Airlines, etc have raised hopes for the revival of East Africa’s tourism sector.
· Nairobi-New York route of Kenyan Airways has been commenced despite low bookings ahead of the Christmas holiday.
The resumption of flights of leading airlines like Kenya Airways, Uganda Airlines, etc have raised hopes for the revival of East Africa’s tourism sector. Tourism stakeholders are upbeat about the recovery of the sector following Kenya Airways resumption of service on the Nairobi-New York route on November 29, and Uganda Airline’s resumption of direct flights from Uganda to Mombasa.
Nairobi-New York route of Kenyan Airways has been commenced despite low bookings ahead of the Christmas holiday. It is hoped that the number of visitors will pick up in the first quarter of 2021 after the resumption of KQ’s direct flights to New York. Kenya Tourism Federation (KFT) chairman Mohammed Hersi expressed the hope that the pickup of international tourists will lead to the revival of the tourism sector from the effects of Covid-19. He assured that the stakeholders have complied with all health protocols and are ready to receive tourists from around the world. KQ plans a phased relaunch of routes that were suspended in March. It has offered special discounts to passengers who book their New York flights in December as part of the promotional campaign. According to reports, most of the beach hotels at Kenya’s Coast are operating at less than half capacity, with 55 percent capacity by local tourists and two percent international visitors, against above 80 percent occupancy by local tourism and 25 percent for international tourists before COVID.
Uganda Airlines flights to Mumbasa which resumed on December 4, have also lifted prospects of business between the two countries. The thrice a week flights scheduled for Tuesday, Friday and Sunday will save travellers connection time in Nairobi.The one-hour 50-minute trip of Uganda Airlines to Mumbasa will target business people who depend on the port of Mombasa and tourists to the Coastal holiday destination. This will be in addition to their existing Entebbe – Nairobi flights that resumed in October.
