Kenya's Diani Beach among world’s top holiday destinations, new survey shows
A view of Diani Beach on Kenya's Coast. Seen against the importance of the industry to the Kenyan economy, the Sh140 million put aside by the Kenya Tourism Board for promotion might be a paltry sum. PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- In the latest Travellers’ Choice Awards (Best of 2015), TripAdvisor ranked Diani Beach 22nd best beach in the world.
- On the African continent, Diani Beach was ranked third and Watamu Beach was voted 14th overall.
- In the hotels category, Medina Palms in Kilifi County was the only Kenyan hotel which was voted as among the top 25 hotels in Africa.
- TripAdvisor ranked the beaches and hotels from across the world based on choices made by global travellers.
Diani Beach in Kwale County has yet again put Kenya on the world map after being voted as among the top 25 beaches in the world in 2015 by TripAdvisor.
In the latest Travellers’ Choice Awards (Best of 2015), TripAdvisor ranked Diani Beach 22nd best beach in the world.
Diani Beach was also voted third among the top 25 beaches in Africa while Watamu Beach in Kilifi County took 14th position on the continent.
Baia do Sancho from Brazil was voted as the best beach among the top 25 beaches in the world.
Anse Lazio from Seychelles was ranked sixth overall, Camp’s Bay Beach from South Africa was 11th while Sharm El Luli from Egypt was at position 19.
On the African continent, Diani Beach was ranked third and Watamu Beach was voted 14th overall.
On the TripAdvisor website, global travel reviewers termed Diani Beach as a “nice place, excellent weather, very good.”
MEDINA PALMS AMONG TOP HOTELS
In the hotels category, Medina Palms in Kilifi County was the only Kenyan hotel which was voted as among the top 25 hotels in Africa.
It was ranked 19th in the top 25 hotels in Africa with travel reviewers terming it “a most wonderful experience not to be missed and (a) gorgeous property in beautiful Watamu.”
TripAdvisor ranked the beaches and hotels from across the world based on choices made by global travellers.
TripAdvisor is an American travel website providing reviews on travel related content and also includes interactive travel forums.
In 2014, Diani Beach was voted as Africa’s leading beach destination by the World Travel Awards.
Coast leaders and tourism players have expressed their satisfaction following the global recognition of the two local beaches and a hotel by TripAdvisor.
Speaking to the Nation by phone, Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya was delighted by the recognition of Diani Beach, saying it would boost tourism in the South Coast.
“We are glad that Diani Beach has yet again made us proud on the global arena barely a year after the World Travel Awards voted it the best beach destination in Africa,” he said.
BETTER HOLIDAY DESTINATION
The Governor added that his county with support from tourism investors would continue to make Diani a better holiday destination in order to attract more local and international tourists.
He called on the United Kingdom, the US, France and Australia to lift the travel advisories, saying security had significantly improved across the country.
Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC) Coast branch executive officer Sam Ikwaye called on the county chiefs to address the challenges of harassment of tourists on the beaches so that more beaches could get global recognition.
He said some other beaches in the Coast had not been considered for the global awards owing to vendors harassing tourists on the beaches.
Kenya Association of Tour Operators (Kato) Coast branch chairperson Monika Solanki called on the county governments to improve infrastructure on the beaches so as to make them more attractive to visitors.
Ms Solanki also called on the government to assure the international tourist source markets that the country is safe for tourists in order to woo more holidaymakers.
