Tourists expected to Kenya as flight bookings up 27pc

IN DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA

International flight bookings to Kenya for the summer season have increased by 27.7 per cent compared to last year, according to data from ForwardKeys.

ForwardKeys is a global organisation which monitors future travel patterns by analysing 14 million reservations every day.

According to ForwardKeys, bookings made from the beginning of May onwards show that nearly all the top Sub-Saharan African destinations are experiencing an increase in international arrivals.

PARK FEE REDUCTION

Namibia tops the list, up 31.2 per cent on the previous year, with Kenya in second, up 27.7 per cent, followed by South Africa with an increase of 21.6 per cent.

"It is clear that recent events have impacted travel to North African countries, especially Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia which are showing a decline in tourist numbers," ForwardKeys CEO Olivier Jager said in a statement.

"However, the picture in Sub-Saharan Africa has changed, with most countries showing positive increases."

Sunday, Kenya Tourism Board acting managing director Jacinta Nzioka said international flight bookings to the country had increased by more than 20 per cent.

She said bookings for the summer — July to October — were on the rise due to improved security in Kenya, especially at the Coast.

The KTB chief said leading tour operators and travel agents from the traditional markets of Germany, the UK, Italy, Switzerland and France were selling Kenya in the wake of the peace being enjoyed in the country.

She also attributed the surge in international flight bookings to the government's reduction of park entry fees from Sh9,000 per visitor to Sh6,000 and the waiving of visa fees for children below 16.

Ms Nzioka added that the Sh1.2 billion charter incentive scheme announced by the government last year had attracted airlines.

She said charter airlines from Europe were expected to resume flights to Mombasa during the summer season, thereby contributing to the rise in international bookings.

In an interview with the Nation on the sidelines of South African travel show, "Indaba 2016", which began on Saturday in Durban, Ms Nzioka said KTB was also focusing on attracting visitors from Africa.

Source: Tourists expected to Kenya as flight bookings up 27pc