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Tourism board roots for direct UK, Mombasa flights

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Tourists arrive at the Moi International Airport in Mombasa in July 2015. PHOTO | FILE

Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) is rooting for the re-introduction of direct flights between Mombasa and the United Kingdom to boost tourist arrivals at the Coast.

KTB chairman Jimi Kariuki said there have been no direct flights from the UK to Mombasa since 2014 following the abrupt withdrawal of charter flights from the route, leading to a reduction in tourist arrivals from the country.

“Whereas the direct route between London and Nairobi is well serviced by Kenya Airways and British Airways, our coastal destinations are not and therefore there is an urgent need for the launch of direct flights to Mombasa,” he said in a statement.

“We will continue to engage with the three key airlines, Kenya Airways, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, to urge them to consider launching the flights.” The call came a day after the UK opened a visa processing centre in Mombasa.