Remarks by His Excellency

President Uhuru Kenyatta, CGH,

Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya
Defence Forces, at the opening of
the English Point Marina in
Mombasa, Tuesday 12 January 2016
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen

Good morning.
It gives me great pleasure to join you
today for the launch of this beautiful
property the English Point Marina.
This occasion is, indeed, an important
one.
I say so because this facility we are
unveiling today is a major endorsement
of the recovery strategy of our tourism
and hospitality industry. As it were, it is
a foretaste of transformation to come.

So let me begin by congratulating the

management of English Point Marina for
an outstanding development; the
investors for showing faith in Kenya; and
the Ministry of Tourism for its efforts to
see this sector up and running again.
Let their example inspire others to
emulate them.
Let me also take a moment to thank the
United States, United Kingdom and
French Governments for their recent
lifting of travel advisories. They
recognise, as well as we do, that
security here has vastly improved, and
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that there is much to be gained by

partnering with Kenya and the region.
Ladies and Gentlemen
For our part, my Government has
concentrated its work to support tourism
and hospitality in three key areas: in
infrastructure, in security, and in
renewing our partnerships with
stakeholders in the industry.
As I have said, the improvements in
security are there for all to see. We
dare not allow that momentum to be
lost.
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Ladies and Gentlemen

We have continued to invest heavily in
infrastructure, in the knowledge quality
infrastructure is critical to social
economic transformation we aim to
achieve as a country.
Recently, we launched the construction
of the Port-Reitz Mombasa road.
Equally, the Dongo Kundu bypass,
when complete, will allow tourists the
pleasure of getting from the mainland to
the south coast without having to use
the ferry.
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Even as we work on the bypass, I have

instructed the Kenya Ferry Service to
step up their management of passenger
transportation through Likoni Channel.
Again, expansion of Malindi Airport will
ease the arrival of our visitors. Further
afield, the expansion of Jomo Kenyatta
International Airport (JKIA) means that
we can handle more visitors, and we
expect that numbers will rise. Those
numbers will include new arrivals from
the United States, for JKIA will soon
receive direct flights from the US.
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I am pleased to inform you that, under

the Ministry of Tourism, we have already
set aside Kshs 1.2 billion for charter
incentives to stimulate demand for
Kenya by new charters to the coastal
region while at the same time
encouraging those already flying in to
increase the frequency of their
flights.
Ladies and Gentlemen
That investment in infrastructure and
reinforcement of security is supported
by closer consultation and partnership
with players in the industry. As we
speak, the Cabinet Secretary for Tourism
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is currently engaged in a high-level

recovery effort in consultation with
stakeholders from government and the
private sector.
That is the right way to shape the
strategies we need to transform the
tourism industry. You can be certain that
my Government fully supports these
initiatives.
Already, there are innovative policies to
show for our work. Visa fees for
children under 16 will be waived
altogether, effective February 1, 2016.
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We in addition intend to remove VAT

currently charged on park entry fees.
In this regard, l have directed the
Cabinet Secretary in charge of the
National Treasury to initiate the
amendment of the VAT Act and
incorporate the amendments in the
Finance Bill for FY 2016/2017. With this
measure, KWS will cap the Park Entry
Fees at 60 US dollars.
We have also waived landing fees at
Mombasa and Malindi airports for
charter planes. The waiver will be
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extended to June 30 2018, to help the

industry regain its full strength.
In return, I must ask all players to
respond to these initiatives, and to the
ongoing consultations, with the
seriousness they deserve. It is time to
make the most of our heritage and our
gifts.

Ladies and Gentlemen

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Finally, it is now my pleasure to declare

the English Point Marina officially
opened.
Thank you. God bless you all.
My very best wishes for the new
year.

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