Reforms to increase tourist arrivals to 1.5bn

By PHILIP MWAKIO

KENYA: The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) wants air transport liberalised to spur travel and tourism growth. This will be aided by  enhanced visa facilitation between States.

Secretary-General Dr Taleb Rifai  said the interdependent relationship between air transport and tourism will help grow the sector. He was speaking In Montreal, Canada. This was when he addressed the Royal Aeronautical Society at the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

Rifai said the positioning of both sectors collectively will stimulate the growth of the overall economy and create more opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship.

“If we are to achieve the forecast rise in international tourist arrivals from 1 billion last year to 1.8 billion in 2030, with all the concomitant economic and social benefits, we must work as one,” Rifai said, according to a statement.

 He observed that increased coordination among airlines, tourism destinations and airport authorities at national level, will help position travel and tourism as a strategic sector with air transport at its core.

This will work  with the UNWTO and ICAO at the global level.  Rifai said that replacing restrictive air agreements with liberal ones may increase traffic by over 75 per cent.