News_Politics

Boom! Uhuru ‘sweet’ initiative rakes in billions for economy

07/11/2018
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Image result for tui charter flight in mombasa

The Charter Incentive Program launched two years ago by President Uhuru Kenyatta has raked in ……wait for it…..KSh. 3.7 billion in revenue earnings so far!!

The latest boost to this noble initiative is the touching down of a TUI Netherlands charter at Moi International Airport Mombasa on Wednesday 7th November carrying about 200 tourists.

“Delighted to receive charter flight direct from Amsterdam to Mombasa this morning. This adds to the growing list of charter flights attracted by the Charter Incentive Program launched in 2016 by

The tourism Cabinet Secretary was at hand to welcome the visitors and he had nothing but positive news for the Kenyans assuring that numbers in tourism are likely to skyrocket in the coming days owing especially to the positivity and peace being experienced in the country.

“The Shs 1.2 billion program launched in 2016, has recorded 55,000 arrivals into the Kenyan coast. Moi International Airport is receiving 15 charter flights per week up from 9 last year. The government has spent Shs 200 million on the incentive program,” stated the Kenya Tourism board on its social media page.

A tourist charter flight is an unscheduled flight that is not part of a regular airline routing. The operator rents the entire aircraft and can determine the departure/arrival locations and times.

Tourism is Kenya’s second largest source of foreign exchange after agriculture. In 2017, the industry contributed Sh.120 billion in foreign exchange income, a 20 per cent growth over 2016. The sector directly supports an estimated 250,000 jobs and an additional 350,000 jobs indirectly. Kenya is a long-haul tourism destination.

In January 2016, the Government of Kenya commenced the implementation of a Sh.1.2 billion Charter Incentive Programme (CIP). The objective for rolling out the CIP was to support the recovery of international tourism to the Kenyan coast which has over the years been highly dependent on tourist arrivals by tourist charter flights, mainly from the United Kingdom (UK) and Europe.

This has been a good trend after the Tourism sector got another major boost on Saturday after a Polish plane – Lot Polish Charter – made its maiden landing in Mombasa with 252 tourists on board. The plane was accorded a water salute as the government announced plans to review the charter incentives program to incorporate low-cost carriers and scheduled flights.

This, the government hopes will further boost the surging tourist numbers into the country. Last week, 315 tourists jetted in aboard another Tui charter.

Lot Polish will now be making two trips per week, which makes up up to 500 visitors. the government is confident that with Mombasa’s 33,000 hotel bed capacity, it can comfortably accommodate the influx.

The focus is on holiday destinations and seats are usually booked through tour operators as part of a package. In 2014, the coast region suffered a major blow with the withdrawal of charter flights from the UK following a travel advisory imposed by the country’s government on several resort locations including the region’s main airport, Moi International Airport in Mombasa. The CIP offers incentives to tourist charter airline operators who make a long-term commitment to bringing tourists to the Kenya coast.

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To qualify, the aircraft must land at Moi International Airport, Mombasa, or at Malindi Airport, as well as disembark 80 per cent of the passengers at one of the two airports. Under the CIP, qualifying charter airlines will enjoy a waiver on landing fees, and a passenger subsidy of $30 per seat filled, both valid for a period of two-and-a-half years.

What future do you envision for the tourism industry in Kenya? Will this boost help? 

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