Players in the tourism industry have asked the government to implement the open skies policy to ensure that the tourism hubs attract more international airlines.
The industry players said they are looking to meet President Uhuru Kenyatta who is expected to tour the Coast region to discuss the importance of implementing open sky policy to revive the international tourism segment that dwindled at the beginning of the Covid 19 epidemic.
The pandemic killed tourism, the coast region's main lifeline, leaving hundreds jobless and hotels struggling with low occupancy levels, forcing hoteliers to change strategy and start wooing local tourists.
President Kenyatta is expected to tour the Coast region this month to launch his legacy projects including the Sh 4.5 billion 457 metre Makupa Bridge in Mombasa - meant to position the city as an island - Sh 4.9 billion Ronald Ngala Utalii College in Kilifi County and other major development projects.
International airlines that are trying to get licenses to Mombasa are being stopped ostensibly to protect our national carrier. The President is coming to launch his projects and there is a lot of focus on Mombasa. Pollman s Tours and Safaris Director, Mohammed Hersi, said Let s lobby on the open skies policy.
Hersi said Mombasa should not play second fiddle to Nairobi because it is the gateway to East Africa.
The announcement by Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia that the government will rethink open skies policy is a major boost, according to Mr Hersi.
Two weeks ago, Mr Macharia said to position Mombasa globally, Kenya plans to open the sky for more carriers to fly direct to Mombasa to boost tourism, which is struggling from the effects of Covid-19.
President Kenyatta will officially open key infrastructure projects in Mombasa, and we will embark on a series of campaigns to position Mombasa as an Island tourist town, said the CS.
Some airline companies that are willing to fly to Mombasa include Turkish, Qatar and Ethiopian Airlines.
Airlines, including KLM, are eager to fly directly to Mombasa. Coast has a golden opportunity because a lot of infrastructure projects are being done in Mombasa, positioning our city globally, but with no airlines landing then it is pretty useless at this crucial moment, said Mr Hersi.