Once upon a time, not even too long ago, the tourism sector in Kenya had many 'enemies' that restricted the influx of travellers into the country.
We ourselves at Malindikenya.net were born and have spent years providing correct information on what have always been defined as taboos of Africa and in particular of the equatorial part of the continent. First of all malaria, with its thousands of victims a year and the odious (as well as harmful and partially useless) prophylaxis. Then Islamic terrorism, with neighbouring Somalia and fears (ill-founded, when talking about coastal or savannah destinations) increased after the attacks on the Nairobi shopping mall in 2013 and Garissa University in 2015. Finally, political insecurity and related risks of riots every time we come close to elections (where the Italian press has its fair share of credit, dusting off words that with Kenya, in 60 years of democracy, have never matched, such as 'civil war').
Today, malaria is no longer a bogeyman: this is partly due to the 'nail-biting' of the pandemic, which from this point of view has had the merit of drawing attention, even unjustly, only to Covid-19 and overshadowing Africa's endemic health scourges. But it is not only that, already for at least ten years the incidence of the Anopheles mosquito in urbanised and therefore also tourist areas has dropped by at least 50% and climatic changes have also contributed, this time positively (and fortunately... something at least!).
Terrorism should not be spoken of too loudly, because recent history teaches us that demons return when you least expect it. In any case, Kenya is increasingly being 'watched' by all the world powers, the USA, China and Russia in the lead, who are also the suppliers of weapons that reach the hands of radicalised Islam. If at one time, with the powerful sheikhs and followers of Bin Laden, Kenya was only seen as an American and NATO branch, today the approach is very different. This is demonstrated by the role of Nairobi and the Kenyatta government as mediator in the affairs of neighbouring countries (DR Congo, South Sudan, Ethiopia and the new Somali government).
Of the elections, we could talk endlessly given the great maturity shown by the Kenyan people during voting, waiting for the results and after the elections. Now we await the same calmness (and little interest in squabbling over a handful of shrewd privileged people in power) for when the Supreme Court rules on the appeals.
But then who are the enemies today?
The main one, no doubt, is flight prices.
And this is what the tourism sector in Kenya will have to work on today and has already started to do so, including us, each to the extent of our competencies and possibilities. We are waiting for the new government to take office (and also the county government, which we greet with optimism) precisely to move in that direction.
Aircraft prices have risen disproportionately, it is there for all to see.
There are inescapable contingent reasons: the increase in the cost of fuel as a result of the Russia-Ukraine war, in airport taxes as a result of the problems of airport management, in the airlines' living costs in relation to lower passenger traffic, and in competition with low-cost flights because after the pandemic, people have started to travel again, but they prefer to stay close to home 'because you never know'.

Ergo, long-haul destinations suffer particularly badly. Airlines today mainly rely on business and frequent travellers, so they tend to better treat (read 'retain') those who have corporate agreements or special cards, rather than one-time travellers who rely on one company as another, looking for the best price.
What will Kenya have to do to improve on this and fight the number one enemy of 'numbers' tourism? Surely return to the attack with the new government (and hopefully the new ministers of Tourism and Transport) for the so-called 'Open Sky Policy', i.e. opening up the airports of Mombasa, above all, and Nairobi to all airlines that would like to land there, also offering them advantageous conditions to do so and create routes that facilitate the enjoyment of Kenya to more travellers of all kinds and at the same time creating the competition that would naturally lower flight prices. Secondly, resume negotiations to make the Malindi International Airport operational. The new governor of Kilifi County Gideon Mung'aro, from this point, may prove to be crucial because he has always been a supporter in the past and as an education he comes from the tourism sector.
As for the opening of the skies to new airlines, it is hoped that results will already be achieved by the winter season, and for Malindi...let us dream again, with a little more desire to wake up from a sleep that has lasted too long.