Browsing: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA)

Kenya's tourist arrivals

Kenya’s international tourist arrivals up 31 per cent as earnings hit $2.7 billion

Countries
  • International arrivals increased from 1.48 million in 2022 to 1.95 million as the sector turned around from lows of 569,848 at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
  • Last year’s strong performance saw the country record the highest earnings in tourism receipts, which went up to $2.7 billion, up from $2 billion.
  • The US remained the single largest market source even as Africa accounted for the lion's share of total arrivals during the year, with the East African region remaining key. 

Kenya’s tourist arrivals grew 31.5 per cent last year, official government data indicates, as the tourism sector recovered to pre-pandemic levels not only in the country but globally.

International arrivals increased from 1.48 million in 2022 to 1.95 million as the sector turned around from lows of 569,848 at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

Last year’s strong performance saw the country record the highest earnings

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Kenya opens skies targetting millions of international tourists

Countries
  • The open Skies Policy in civil aviation aims to ease international airlines’ access to national airports to increase the flow of tourists and develop their potential as regional air hubs.
  • Kenya is seen to warm up to more international carriers, with the latest being flyDubai, which is now flying directly to the Moi International Airport, Mombasa, after launching last week.
  • Apart from attracting foreign carriers mainly from Europe and the Middle East, airlines from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and other EAC states will operate across borders without restrictions.

The Open Skies Policy in Kenya

Kenya is slowly heeding calls by the private sector to open its skies to more international airlines seeking to fly directly to the country’s Coast, a leading beach destination preferred mainly by Europeans.

This comes as the government also banks on the recently unveiled “visa-free” to open the country to more visitors, aiming to grow the …

Kenya partners with media to market tourism offerings

Countries
  • Initiative comes as players prepare for a significant tourism boom this year.
  • Kenya’s tourism is picking up from a strong performance in 2022 when global travel resumed.
  • The partnership with local media was initiated on Wednesday during a meeting hosted by Tourism minister Peninah Malonza.

The Kenyan government and local media houses have partnered to market tourism offerings in the country, in a renewed effort to drive up international numbers.

This comes as industry players prepare for a significant boom this year. Tourism in Kenya is picking up from a strong performance in 2022 when global travel resumed post the pandemic.

The tie-up between the Ministry and media houses will showcase “Kenya’s breathtaking landscapes, unique wildlife, and rich cultural heritage,” to captivate the world. Various stateholders launched the partnership on Wednesday during a meeting hosted by Tourism Cabinet Secretary Peninah Malonza.

Editors and journalists from top Kenyan media houses will …

Tax and inflation woes plunge Kenya into severe shortage of smartphones

Industry and Trade
  • Shipping agents are not allowing cargo to Kenya as they avoid having goods getting stuck at points of entry, says a mobile importer in Nairobi.
  • Kenya Revenue Authority is increasingly tightening checks at ports of entry to eliminate under declaration and concealment, which deny the country taxes.
  • On average device shipment went down by about 13.5 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Kenya is hurtling into a severe shortage of smartphones as new tax measures and import regulations pile pressure on traders who have cut on shipments. Traders are projecting that the shortage of smartphones could push up the price of the gadgets by about 40 per cent.

The move follows a decision by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to plug loopholes used by traders to under declare or conceal the value of gadgets in turn denying the government revenues.

Alice, an importer and dealer within Nairobi’s Central

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Kenya’s Tourism Industry Rebounds with 70.45% Increase in International Arrivals in 2022

Industry and Trade
  • The sector rebounded in 2022 due to a 70.45% increase in international arrivals.
  • According to official government figures, the number of arrivals increased to 1,483,753 from870,463 in 2021.
  • Rebound attributed to a number of source countries relaxing Covid-19 limitations and opening up travel.

The tourist industry in Kenya is prepared for a significant boom this year, following last year's good performance buoyed by the resumption of the post-pandemic international travel and robust tourism activities.

The sector, which offers great investment potential primarily in hotel facilities, tour and travel businesses, and travel agencies, rebounded in 2022 due to a 70.45% increase in international arrivals.

According to official government figures, the number of arrivals increased to 1,483,753 from870,463 in 2021.

The Tourism Research Institute (TRI) attributes the rebound to a number of source countries relaxing their Covid-19 limitations and opening up travel.

Prior to the pandemic, the sector contributed 10.4% of the…

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Jambojet to begin Goma, Lamu direct flights in September

Africa

Kenyan-based low-cost carrier Jambojet has announced plans to begin operations to North Kivu Capital, Goma in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as to the Kenyan coastal island of Lamu.

In a statement, the carrier says the move is part of its expansion program, at a time when the coronavirus pandemic continues to have a devastating impact on the aviation sector in the region as well as across the world.

The company said its inaugural flight to Goma will be on 10th September 2021, starting with 2 frequencies weekly, with flights expected to grow to 4 frequencies weekly, flying on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.

The airline announced that it will be flying to Lamu 4 times weekly, starting 15th September 2021.

Commenting on the announcement, Jambojet Board of Directors Chairman Vincent Rague said the expansion plan has been in motion for 3 years.

“Three years ago, …

IATA projects that Kenyan market could more than double in size in 20 years

Aviation

The African aviation market will increase by 200 million passengers, to over 356 million by 2038, this is according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) latest forecast.  IATA  also predicts that over the next two decades, the Kenyan market could more than double in size, resulting in an additional 11.3 million passenger journeys, over 449,000 more jobs and a US$11.3 billion (Ksh1.1 trillion) boost to GDP by 2038.

Speaking during the 2019 Routes Africa forum that was attended by over 250 delegates, international delegates, Raphael Kuuchi, Vice President, Africa, IATA, said Africa’s aviation industry projected growth represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 4.6 percent of the continent’s total market size.

While making his keynote address during the opening ceremony, Mr Kuuchi, Vice President, Africa, IATA said “Routes Africa is critical to the development of air services on the continent and these forums have made a real …

Air India returns to Kenya after 10 years

Kenya

India’s national airline has re-launched commercial operations to Kenya’s capital Nairobi, making a return to the route it abandoned a decade ago.

Air lndia’s flight from Mumbai to Nairobi landed at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Wednesday with 100 passengers on board.

READ ALSO:KQ boosted by increased India flight deals

This marked the return of the airline to Kenya after 10 years.  It return is now seen a s a major boost for trade, investment and tourism activities between the two countries which have shared trade and economic ties for many years.

The airline will offer four direct flights a week-Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday with plans to offer additional flights in the pipeline, it said during the launch.

READ ALSO:Kenya woos India in agribusiness trade ties

According to tourism industry players, Air India will be instrumental in increasing uptake from both Tier I and II …

Nairobi’s Airport shines even as Kenya Airways struggle

Uncategorized

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is the 2nd fastest growing airport in the word cargo ranking. This has been revealed in the Airports Council International (ACI) latest World Airport Traffic Report, which highlights top airports for passengers, cargo and aircraft movements and showcases the world’s fastest-growing airports for 2018.

JKIA was ranked 2nd in the ‘Fastest Growing Airports (Handing over 250,000 metric tons of air cargo)’ category, after handling over 342,000 metric tons of air cargo in 2018, a 25% growth from the what was reported in the year 2017.

This ranking came as a surprise to many given the dwindling fortunes of Kenya Airways which has been facing a hard economic time coupled with staff strikes and poor profitability. Kenya Airways management has fallen out with its pilots over continued losses at the airline, in the latest of many stand-offs between the two groups. This is in the wake of …

Inside Kenya Airways wrangles

Kenya

Kenya Airways management has fallen out with its pilots over continued losses at the airline, in the latest of many stand-offs between the two groups.

This is in the wake of a Ksh8.5 billion (US$81.9 million) half year 2019 (January-June) net loss as the carrier remains in the red.

READ:Kenya’s national carrier sinks into Ksh8.6 billion loss

The latest performance is a dip compared to the Ksh4 billion (US$38.6 million) net loss reported in a similar period last year.

This is despite a slight growth in total income during the period which went up to Ksh58.9 billion compared to Ksh52.2 billion same period last year.

Management has blamed the losses to high operating cost occasioned by an expanded network.

During the period, KQ, as it is known by its international code, saw its operating costs edged up to Ksh61.5 billion compared to Ksh53.2 billion last year, which eroded gains …