Economy

Kwale bets on flights to grow tourism

tourists

Tourists arrive at the Moi International Airport in Mombasa. FILE

Kwale is betting on direct flights from Nairobi to boost its tourist numbers in a campaign that will put it in direct competition with the North Coast destinations of Mtwapa, Malindi and Kilifi. The Kenya Airports Authority has announced plans to upgrade an airstrip in Ukunda to allow landing of bigger planes and woo airlines like Kenya Airways to the county.

KAA says it has secured Sh48 million that will fund the relocation of a school constructed on part of the airstrip, which restricts aviation activities. Mohamed Siraj, the KAA officer in charge at the Ukunda airstrip, said the authority had handed a five-acre piece of land for the construction of the new school.

“The contractors will start work as soon as clearance from the county government is secured. Hopefully, the relocation will be completed within a year.

“The expansion has been part of the airstrip’s development plan. We want to construct a new terminal building, car park and apron in addition to expanding the runway to accommodate planes the size that Kenya Airways operates regionally,” said Mr Siraj

Speaking separately in Nairobi, Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya said the expansion was one of the key developments that would bring in more tourists to the county.

“It will be nice to have more tourists fly in directly from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport instead of passing through the ferry channel, which is time consuming,” he said.
Others tourists are expected to fly in from Wilson Airport.

South Coast, known for its white, sandy beaches, has over the years lost tourists to the more accessible North Coast destinations of Mtwapa, Malindi and Kilifi, mainly due to congestion at the Likoni channel.

In January, the Kenya Ferry Services introduced priority passes for tour operators, allowing vans carrying tourists to avoid queues and quickly board the ferry. “Once the school has been fully relocated it will open room for further investments into the airstrip expansion project,” Mr Mvurya said.

Apart from the school, expansion plans have been hampered by grabbing of KAA land. Mr Mvurya noted that the county was working with relevant authorities to ensure all land intended for the airstrip is restored.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission recently handed KAA 12 acres of the airstrip that had been illegally acquired by private developers after successfully contesting the transfers in court.

The authority requires 20 hectares more in addition to the acquisitions from private individuals for expansion.

The bulk of planes landing at the Ukunda airstrip are charters taking tourists to national parks and other airports. Local tourism has lately been hurt by insecurity.

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