Kwale County has welcomed Jambo Jet into the coastal county as the airline commences direct flights from Nairobi to the tourism resort city of Diani.
Governor Fatuma Achani expressed delight that the carrier has inaugurated scheduled direct flights from the capital city to the Diani airport.
Governor Achani says the airline’s flight comes in the backdrop of the ongoing Sh2.3 billion Diani Airport rehabilitation and expansion project, noting that the development would enhance competitiveness in airfares, offering travellers an expanded range of options.
She said Diani airport needed to meet the needs of discerning passengers and other airport users, prioritising the concept of ‘passenger experience’.
Achani further welcomed Jamb Jet to Kwale and appreciated the services they offered, saying its operations would be a game changer as the county would receive more visitors and boost county revenues.
The Governor said enhanced transportation would attract visitors to tourist sites, create an enabling environ
ment for tourism to thrive, and also deepen the experience for holiday and business travellers.
She said the devolved unit would partner with investors for tourism development and unlock the tourism potential of the coastal county.
Achani, who was accompanied by her Deputy Chirema Kombo and County Tourism Executive Michael Mutua, was speaking in her office when she received a delegation from Jambo Jet led by Sales and Operations Manager Anne Chebiwot.
She stated that the Diani airport upgrade would enable the airport to operate for 24 hours and increase the number of tourists and cargo into the coastal region.
Diani Beach on the Indian Ocean coast has been awarded the best beach destination in Africa for seven years in a row by the World Travel Awards.
Diani Beach is the preferred holiday destination for both domestic and foreign tourists, and each year, it receives a record number of domestic and international tourists arriving to savour its pristine white sandy beaches.
‘The new operations of Jambo Je
t will bring more domestic and international visitors into Diani, a leading tourist resort town on the south coast,’ she said, adding that the aviation sector was a major catalyst for economic growth.
The coastal county boss said the devolved government would collaborate with private investors and other airlines to increase the traffic flow into Kwale.
Achani promised to support and work with relevant tourism stakeholders and foster a partnership that would lead to sustainable development and guarantee the success of their investments.
On her part, Chebiwot said Jambo Jet would support the county government with the issuance of tenders to women and youth groups and engage entertainment and cultural groups in ushering guests as they arrived at Diani airport.
She maintained that the upgrade of facilities at the airport would lead to improved passenger services, stressing that the airline, which is marking its 10th’ anniversary, would operate daily flights to Diani.
Source: Kenya News Agency