Tourism industry welcomes Charter Incentive extension

Players in the tourism sector have welcomed the extension of the Charter Incentive Programme.

This follows a decision announced by Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala that the deal will be extended to 2020.

In a statement, Diani Reef Beach Resort & Spa Managing Director Bobby Kamani said this would ensure that the country benefits from international tourists.

“This, along with infrastructural changes to the Coast region will further encourage charter tourism and arrivals into the country. We can hope to see the tourism revenues for the country regain their former glory as was seen in 2005/2006 as well as 2012,” said Kamani

Set out in 2016, the incentive programme was aimed at supporting the recovery of international tourism to the Kenyan coast. This was expected to boost tourist charter flights from the traditional source markets of the United Kingdom and larger Europe.

The deal players in the sector explained would only apply if the aircraft landed at either Moi International Airport, Mombasa, or at the Malindi Airport. Additionally, the aircraft is expected to have 80 per cent of the passengers at one of the two airports.

In return, the charter airlines enjoy a waiver on landing fees, and a passenger subsidy of Ksh3000 per seat filled for a period of two-and-a-half years.

‘As we expect to see a higher number of charter tourists, we can only hope for a further extension of the CIP past 2020, depending on how well the extension of the CIP is received in reality, adds Kamani.