Mombasa County has signed a tourism partnership with the Ukrainian government to revive the sector that is reeling from the effects of Covid-19.
The partnership will see Ukraine launch the first charter flight ferrying tourists directly from Kiev to Moi International Airport, Mombasa in April. The charter flight will be ferrying 200 tourists monthly and later three times a week.
More than 20 Ukrainian tour operators and travel agents are currently pitching camp in Mombasa exploring the tourism products and form more partnerships with industry players.
The Ukrainian tourism officials promised to sell Mombasa and Kenya to their nationals in the European nation to boost Kenya’s tourism sector.
Mombasa county chief officer in charge of Trade and Tourism, Ms Asha Abdi, lauded the partnership terming it an impetus towards reviving the sector.
“This partnership will see the county receive its first direct Ukrainian charter flight in April at the Moi International Airport. We have signed a partnership agreement with Ukraine that will see Mombasa directly benefiting immensely from its tourism sector,” said Ms Abdi.
Speaking when the Ukrainian tourism players visited the county government offices in Mombasa, Ms Abdi said the hotel industry has been significantly affected by the pandemic.
“Some hotels have completely closed down, others are operating optimally while majority are struggling due to coronavirus that has affected the industry. But this partnership will boost our tourism products and we will get more tourists from Ukraine,” she said adding that it will be the first charter flight from Ukraine to Africa.
