Kenya tourism officials have welcomed the removal of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advisory for Lamu and Manda islands.
The relaxation of the FCO travel guidelines mean that both coastal areas now open for access by air via Manda airport.
Airlines serving the airport include Air Kenya, Safarilink, Fly 540 and Jambojet from Nairobi, and Mombasa Air Safari from Mombasa.
Kenya Tourism Board chairman Jimi Kariuki said: “This latest announcement means visitors to Kenya have the opportunity to visit this unspoilt area of the coastline, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lamu Old Town, the oldest and best-preserved Swahili settlement in East Africa.”
The FCO still advises against all but essential travel to areas within 60 kilometres of the Kenya-Somali border and the rest of Lamu County, with the exception of Lamu Island and Manda Island
“If you travel to Lamu Island or Manda Island, you should do so by air to Manda airport and not by road,” the FCO added.
It continues to warn of a heightened threat of terrorist attacks in the capital of Nairobi and the coast and resort areas of Mombasa and Malindi.
However, the area where the FCO continues to advise against all but essential travel doe not include Kenya’s safaris destinations in national parks, reserves and wildlife conservancies; beach resorts such as Mombasa, Malindi, KIlifi, Watamu, Diani, Lamu Island and Manda Island or the airports at Mombasa, Malindi and Manda.