Mombasa County has renewed calls for the full implementation of the Open Sky Policy, saying it will be key to unlocking direct international flights into the coastal city and driving Kenya toward its target of three million tourists annually.
The appeal was made during a Christmas tree lighting ceremony held at the Sapphire Hotel in Mombasa.
Tourism and Trade Chief Executive Committee Member Mohamed Osman praised the Sapphire Hotel management for reopening and repositioning the property after a seven-year closure, describing its revival as a major boost to Mombasa’s Central Business District (CBD).
He said the hotel’s reopening had helped restore business confidence and evening activity in an area that had remained economically dormant for years.
Statistics show that Kenya received about 2.5 million international tourists in 2024, but only eight per cent arrived directly through Moi International Airport. Osman said the low figure reflected years of restricted international access to Mombasa, which had hindered tourism growth at the Coast.
“Increasing direct international flights will not only grow arrivals to Mombasa but also benefit the surrounding counties that depend heavily on coastal tourism,” Osman said.
Infrastructure improvements have also played a central role in the city’s recovery, including the completion of key road links, the revival of commuter rail services and the opening of new urban corridors under the national government’s transport programme.
Sapphire Hotel General Manager John Yegon said Mombasa’s transformation into a city destination and not just a beach gateway was already visible as domestic tourism rises.
He said increased road connectivity and the opening of the Meter Gauge Railway connecting the SGR terminus to the CBD had made the island more accessible and attractive to visitors, while improved cleanliness and security had boosted confidence in urban tourism.
Yegon said Sapphire Hotel was actively promoting cultural tourism by focusing on local history, cuisine and experiences that are uniquely from Mombasa.
“There is so much beyond the beach; street food, historical sites and lived culture. That is what visitors want today: experience, not just accommodation,” he said.
Yegon added that the hotel had adopted a service-driven approach that emphasises quality, entertainment and guest experience as its core competitive strategy.
“We are obsessed with service and experience. We focus on product diversity, guest comfort and entertainment because what people remember is how they felt,” he said.
Sapphire Hotel Managing Director Inara Jiwan said the hotel’s fast growth was driven by a young, motivated team determined to reposition the hotel as an entertainment-rich hospitality destination.
“We are a young hotel and a young team, but the drive to prove ourselves has been our strength. Post-COVID recovery created an opportunity, and we used it to redefine what city hospitality can be,” Jiwan said.
She added that events, nightlife and entertainment offerings had helped the hotel stand out at a time when Mombasa’s CBD has re-emerged as a tourism and business hub.
As Kenya moves beyond its traditional beach tourism brand, Osman said the future lies in diversifying tourism products through cultural, sports and urban tourism.
“We are no longer selling Mombasa as a destination. We are selling it as an experience,” he said.
A combination of air access reforms, infrastructure development, security measures and private sector investment will define the next phase of tourism growth in the Coast region.