A lack of direct, international flights from Europe is a major stumbling block to revival of tourism in Kenya’s resort towns of Malindi and Watamu in Kilifi County.
Recently, Italian billionaire and ex-Formula One boss, Flavio Briatore, said he was seeking a buyer for one of his exclusive luxury beach hotels in Malindi as guest numbers had dropped off.
According to, Roberto Marini, Managing Director of Ocean Beach Resort, the majority of Italian tourists who used to visit Malindi for beach holidays have shifted to Zanzibar to overcome air connectivity challenges. The archipelago receives direct flights from Milan, while the journey to Malindi is more difficult. “Tourists have to travel between eight and nine hours from Italy to Nairobi or Mombasa, and then travel by road for a number of hours from Moi International Airport in Mombasa to Malindi,” explains Marini.
He said although Malindi had beautiful beaches, warm weather, rich historical culture and hospitable people, there was a low occupancy rate at the resorts. Sam Ikwaye, Coast Branch Executive Officer of Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC), said the current hotel occupancy in Malindi and Watamu resorts ranged between 20% and 30%.
In a bid to revive tourism in Malindi and Watamu, Marini has called on the Kenyan government to fast track the expansion of Malindi Airport, enabling it to handle direct flights from Europe.
He said although the government had assured tourism players that it would extend the airport’s runway from 1,4km to 2,5km, the project has yet to take off.
According to Malindi International Airport Manager, Walter Agong, the airport’s current runway can only handle smaller aircraft such as the Embraer 190, which has a maximum capacity of 100 passengers.
When the runway is extended to 2,5km it will have the capacity to handle bigger aircraft, such as the Airbus 800 series, which could carry up to 200 passengers, Agong added.
