KENYA: Seychelles Tourism Board Signs MOU With Kenya Airways

The Government of Kenya, through the Ministry of Tourism and National Carrier, Kenya Airways yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) to promote tourism and boost intra-Africa trade and travel between two of the world’s most popular tourist destinations.

This was confirmed at a handover ceremony held at The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure attended by Cabinet Secretaries: Dr. James Macharia, Transport and Communications and Najib Balala, Tourism and Seychelles’ Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine – Mr. Maurice Loustau-Lalanne.

The agreement encapsulates a framework for collaboration between the airline and the Seychelles Tourism Board and is underpinned by the strategic value of tourism to both organizations, and to the airline’s purpose to promote sustainable development in Africa. The MoU covers promoting intra-Africa tourism through joint marketing efforts, participation in events across Africa, and stakeholder education.

'Statistics indicate an increase in arrivals from both destinations to each other’s countries. There is - therefore, a solid ground to further grow and sustain tourism in both destinations' said Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala.

Kenya Airways has operated into Seychelles since 1972 and today flies four times a week to the island – located a thousand plus kilometres off the coast of Eastern Africa.

'We will work together to come up with tourism-boosting strategies including incentive travels and holiday packages. We are excited by the possibilities offered by Kenya Airways and the support accorded to us by The Government of Kenya' responded Mr. Maurice Loustau-Lalanne, Seychelles’ Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine.

Through its SkyTeam partnership, Kenya Airways offers access to 1,000 destinations across the world and is looking to add the U.S in its repertoire as Kenya is now qualified for Category 1 – which allows the airline to fly to and from the U.S.

'Through this opportunity, Kenya Airways will seek to not only boost the frequency of flights into Seychelles, but will avail regular cargo freight flights on the request of the Seychelles government based on demand for products from Kenya' added Kenya Airways CEO, Mbuvi Ngunze.