Gitonga Marete And Mathias Ringa
7 May 2008
Nairobi — The country's tourism industry Tuesday got a vote of confidence when 353 tourists arrived in Mombasa on a charter flight from the United Kingdom.
Some of the tourists had earlier cancelled their holidays at the height of the post-election violence.
The tourists, who arrived at the Moi International Airport at 11am, said they were happy to start their holidays.
Mr Christopher Bricknell, who had cancelled his holiday in December due to the political uncertainty in the country, said, "I am happy because I have come to have my wedding here."
"We cancelled our holiday but did not go to any other country because we knew that even if we went elsewhere we would have to come back to Kenya, anyway," he added.
Back on track
Mr Mohamed Hersi, Kenya Association of Hotel Keepers and Caterers Coast branch chairman, lauded Monarch for resuming the charter flight after its cancellation. "This is a good sign that we will soon get back on track," he said, pointing out that it would, however, take a little longer for the industry to recover.
"We are expecting more charters from the UK in June, July and August and there are indications that all the Italian charters will also resume," he added. Travel agents handling the tourists are Thomas Cook, Kuoni, Somak Holidays and Cosmos. Kenya Association of Professional Holiday Representatives chairman Mr Paul Kurgat said the growing confidence in the industry was due to the marketing by the Kenya Tourism Board and tour operators abroad.
"We are glad to receive the guests after such a long and painful spell," he said, adding that there was still bad publicity abroad that should be countered. The Monarch crew, led by Captain Paul Rosoman, said they were saddened by the cancellation of charter flights from the UK following the post-election violence early this year.
Captain Rosoman made the remarks at Nyali Beach Hotel in Mombasa during a cocktail party on Monday night hosted for the crew by the hotel's general manager Charles Gichohi. He expressed hope that the resumption of Monarch flights to Kenya will help revive the ailing industry in the East African country.
"We are glad to be back in Kenya because it is a great country with hospitable people and lots of tourist attractions such as wildlife. It is our pleasure to bring back tourists to this beautiful country," he said.
A Monarch crew member, Suzanne Snow, said she was supposed to be in Kenya after New Year, but the charter flight was cancelled after violence broke out in the country. Ms Snow said she enjoyed flying to Kenya and help bring tourists from the UK and other European countries.
Post-poll crisis
She said the resumption of Monarch charter flights to Kenya will contribute a lot towards reviving the collapsed industry. "I was disappointed when our flight was cancelled just after the New Year owing to the post-poll crisis which hit this country. It is my hope that Kenyans learnt a lesson and the country will not fall apart again," she said.
Another crew member, Arancha Sagredo, said she loved flying to Kenya because it abounds in wildlife, beautiful beaches and good tropical weather at the Coast just like her native country Spain. Mr Gichohi thanked the Monarch charter firm for resuming flights to Kenya.
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