Kenyan Operator Targets Tourists with Airport Customer Center

Kenya's GSM network operator, Safaricom, has opened its ninth fully-fledged customer care center at the Moi International Airport, Mombasa. The center, formally opened by Safaricom Chief Executive Officer Mr. Michael Joseph has been established to specifically serve direct charter and other tourists arriving through the airport.

The new centre, furnished to an authentic Swahili touch, will complement an already existing Safaricom Care centre located at Rex House on Mombasa's mainland.

Speaking during a launch ceremony at the center located on the busy arrivals terminal, Joseph said the facility would be at hand to conveniently provide visitors to the Coast through the airport with such services as Safaricom International roaming solutions to more than 101 countries in 235 networks.

All other traditional Safaricom Care Centre services such as SIM swaps, Safaricom Advantage bill settlements and airtime sales among the normal customer care services will also be available at the new centre.

Safaricom, Joseph assured will continue to facilitate growth in all the leading economic fronts as part of the firm's contribution to Kenya's economic and social development.

"To facilitate the full recovery of our world-renowned tourism product particularly through our pristine coastline, Safaricom is committed to laying a suitable telecommunication infrastructure," he said.

And added: "The opening of this centre is also a further affirmation to our commitment to further extend our services to locations which can enable us serve our existing and potential subscribers most conveniently."

Still as part of tourism development, the facility, Joseph noted, will boost and raise Kenya's security standing as holidaying tourists now have a cost effective tool to reassure their families and friends of their security through a simple Safaricom phone call or even SMS.

"For us at Safaricom this is a heavy investment and is part of our Kshs 14 billion network upgrade and expansion project this year," he said.

The Safaricom boss explained that the importance of Mombasa and the coast region as one of his firm's prime markets had been underlined by the fact that the firm had chosen Mombasa as the second city after Nairobi to host one of its 10 operational network-switching stations."

Posted to the site on 21st July 2005