You are in safe hands here, Balala assures tourists

Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala speaks at his Telposta Towers offices in Nairobi on June 6, 2016. Jubilee split over Balala bid for Mombasa governor seat. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The CS said marketing campaigns by the Ministry of Tourism and Kenya Tourism Board were expected to attract more tourists from Germany, UK, France, Italy and Spain.

Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala has assured international tourists that the country is safe ahead of the high season next month.

At the same time, British High Commissioner to Kenya Nic Hailey and French Ambassador Remi Marechaux said they were impressed by the government’s efforts to secure the country.

Mr Balala said the government had invested Sh300 billion on equipping the police and Kenya Defence Forces to guard the borders against Al-Shabaab.

As a result, security had improved and the UK, US and France had lifted travel advisories on Mombasa and other coastal towns.

Mr Balala said government incentives were bearing fruit after a German holiday airline, Condor, inaugurated flights from Munich to Mombasa on Wednesday.

“In March, we were in Germany and assured Condor executives the country is now safe,” he said.

“Condor has now introduced flights from Munich to Mombasa and will operate two flights a week” the CS said.

He said next month more European charter airlines, including from Poland, are expected to resume flights to Mombasa.

The CS said marketing campaigns by the Ministry of Tourism and Kenya Tourism Board were expected to attract more tourists from Germany, UK, France, Italy and Spain.

Mr Balala, who was speaking at Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort in Mombasa during a Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers symposium, said other incentives like a waiver of VAT on park entry fees would also help attract tourists.

High Commissioner Hailey told the symposium Britain had lifted the travel advisories after Kenya addressed insecurity.

French envoy Marechaux also said his embassy recommended a review of the travel advisory on Lamu due to efforts to address the Al-Shabaab threat.