Lack of direct flights blamed for Kenya’s dwindling tourist numbers
Former Kenya Tourism Federation chairman Mohammed Hersi highlighted the issue, stressing the importance of direct flights for increasing visitor numbers.
The government has been urged to improve air connectivity to bolster Kenya’s struggling tourism sector amid growing concerns over limited flights to key destinations.
Former Kenya Tourism Federation chairman Mohammed Hersi highlighted the issue, stressing the importance of direct flights for increasing visitor numbers.
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“Tourists don’t walk to a destination. The majority have to fly, more so for long-haul destinations,” Mohammed said, expressing frustration over the lack of focus on air transport.
He lamented losing tourist groups from countries like Estonia, Latvia, and the United Kingdom, who are eager to visit destinations such as Mombasa, Diani, Watamu, and parks like Amboseli and Tsavo.
Mohammed questioned why the government had not addressed the correlation between flight availability and visitor numbers.
“This did not start with the Kenya Kwanza government; the Uhuru regime was not any better on matters of open skies, totally undermining the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM),” he said.
Mohammed decried that the absence of scheduled flights to the Kenyan coast has discouraged international hotel brands from investing in the region. He also criticised the Dongo Kundu bypass for its limited contribution to tourism, as it mainly facilitates the transport of goods rather than tourists.
“In contrast, Tanzania is excelling,” he said, citing Turkish Airlines’ 38 weekly flights to Tanzania compared to only seven to Nairobi.
He warned that Nairobi’s Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) business could also decline due to insufficient air connectivity.
His remarks come as Turkish Airlines announced a significant expansion of its services to Tanzania from June 2025.
The airline will increase flights to Kilimanjaro International Airport from four to 14 weekly, Zanzibar from nine to 14 weekly, and Dar es Salaam from seven to 10 weekly.
The move aims to boost access to Tanzania’s renowned attractions, including the Serengeti, Mount Kilimanjaro, and Zanzibar.
The Tanzania Association of Tour Operators welcomed the expansion, highlighting its potential to increase tourist arrivals, support local businesses, and promote sustainable tourism.
The concerns have sparked widespread discussion online. One X user, Kapyoseiin, observed, “In the wee hours of the morning, you’ll find lots of Pollmans Landcruisers full of tourists plying the Dongo Kundu stretch, and in the evening, the same buses are full of tourists probably from MIA [Mombasa International Airport] heading to their favourite hotels in Diani.”
Another user, Charles Nyamari, expressed frustration over the lack of government action, saying, “When the government lacks the right people in the right places, whatever information you’re holding could mean nothing. No one in government is aware.”
Some users also empathised with Mohammed’s long-standing advocacy for the sector.
“This is painful. I’ve been your ardent follower on this crusade to increase our tourism numbers over the years. It’s sad that no one in this government listens to you, yet south of our border, they are thriving on the same policies you’ve always mentioned,” wrote a user identified as Local Man.
Others criticised the government’s lack of expertise in tourism matters.
“They are not ready for this conversation because they are not conversant about tourism. People are there to eat and not to do any good to the sector. Engaging veterans like you would be very promising, but they choose otherwise,” Cjurazz said.
Steve Munyiri highlighted the competition posed by Zanzibar, stating, “Zanzibar keeps getting more and more flights with basically zero attractions apart from the beach—Enter Air, Condor, and charter flights from Germany, Poland, etc. Our politics are slowly killing all our industries.”
As the regional competition intensifies, calls for action continue to grow, with many urging the government to address the critical issue of air connectivity to safeguard Kenya’s position as a premier tourist destination.
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