Hotels reopen as Italian firms resume flights

More than 30 hotels and luxury villas in Malindi and Watamu resort towns, Kilifi County, have reopened as tourism starts to pick up.

Malindi and Watamu Tourism Association interim Secretary Harvey Ndege said the hotels, villas and cottages — which closed down during the low tourist season — had now opened their doors to welcome holidaymakers, mainly from the Italian market.

This comes after an Italian chartered airline, Meridiana Fly, resumed flights from Rome to Mombasa last month, boosting tourism in Malindi and Watamu. The towns had been hit by an international tourist drought.

“Tourism in Malindi and Watamu had hit its lowest ebb. The towns depend on visitors from the Italian market,” said Mr Ndege.

“The return of charter flights from Italy is key for the revival of the sector in Kilifi County,” he added.

Mr Ndege, who is also the general manager of Ocean Beach Resort, Malindi, said the number of tourists from Italy is expected to rise when another Italian charter airline, Francorosso, resumes flights from Milan to Mombasa today.

The hotelier said the charter airlines from Italy, however, cannot fully sustain tourism in Kilifi County since most of the Italian tourists end up in Zanzibar.

“Some of the thousands of workers who were sent home during the low tourist season have resumed work, easing life for their families,” said Mr Ndege.

He called on the government to allow airlines from the Gulf — including Qatar Airways, the Emirates Airlines and Etihad Airways — to introduce flights to Mombasa to boost international tourist arrivals.

Mr Ndege called for the expansion of the Malindi Airport and the Ukunda Airstrip to attract regional airlines such as Ethiopian Airlines and RwandAir, thereby help revive the sector.

Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers Coast Vice-Chairman Slias Kiti said the visit by US President Barack Obama and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi last month was a major boost to the tourism sector.

He said the visit by the two leaders had improved Kenya’s image and given confidence to international tour operators and chartered airlines that the country is safe for holidays.

“Soon after the Italian PM’s visit, Meridiana Fly resumed flights from Rome to Mombasa,” he said.

Baobab Beach Resort General Manager Sylvester Mbandi said international bookings are expected to increase from 20 per cent to 50 per cent for the hotel following tourist arrivals from Italy and Germany.