Ukunda Airstrip’s inability to handle bigger aircraft has dimmed tourism in Diani, Kwale County, amid a rebound in travel. Although Diani is endowed with one of the best beaches in Africa and also has world class hotels, accessing the holiday destination is a challenge due to lack of an airport and ferry problems on the Likoni channel.
The airstrip has a small runway of 1.4 kilometres and hoteliers currently on an expansion drive want a longer taxiway of at least 2.5 kilometres. “To revive tourism, it is important for the county to have an airport so that bigger aircraft can bring more tourists to enjoy our beaches and other tourism facilities,” said Bobby Kamani, the managing director of Diani Reef Beach Resort —which recently spent Sh200 million to build one of the largest conference facility at the coast.
