Malindi-Sala Gate road tipped to boost tourism

The road Sh4.2 billion State-funded road will take between two and three years to complete.

Hoteliers and tour operators have since independence been lobbying successive governments to tarmac the road but nothing materialised.

Some tour vans transporting used to be attacked by gangsters taking advantage of the vehicles slow movement as they navigate potholes.

As a result of the pathetic condition, tourists take between three and four hours to travel from Malindi to the park for game drives.

Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC)  Kilifi County branch chairman Philip Chai said the project was a major boost to tourism in Malindi and Watamu resort towns.

He said when the construction is completed it would take less than two hours for wildlife enthusiasts to travel from Malindi to Tsavo East.

“We also expect the road to uplift domestic tourism as local tourists from Nairobi will take a short time to drive from Voi to Malindi rather the longer route to Mombasa,” he said.

Kenya Association of Tour Operators (Kato) Coast branch chairperson Monika Solanki was equally optimistic about the economic prospects.

“Tourism in Taita Taveta will get a boost as tourists from Kilifi County will head to Tsavo East and spend their time in Voi town and its environs,” she said.

Ms Solanki said tour firms have been incurring losses due to their vehicles getting damaged because of the bad road.

Garoda Beach Resort resident manager Daniel Mwita was upbeat over the construction saying it would  help revive tourism in Kilifi County.

Despite the high tourist season, tourism in Malindi is in the doldrums due to few charter flights from Italy to Mombasa.

Currently, only charter airlines of Meridiana Fly and Neosair from Italy operate two flights each from Milan to Moi International Airport, Mombasa.

According to KAHC Coast executive officer Sam Ikwaye, hotel occupancy in Malindi and Watamu is averaging at between 20 and 40 per cent.

Apart from tourism, the tarmacking of the Malindi-Sala Gate road is expected to boost agriculture as farmers grow vegetables and fruits on the banks of Galana River.

Malindi town gets its supply of fresh vegetables and fruits from farmers doing irrigation at Chakama Irrigation Scheme, Madunguni, Jilore and Baricho.

The road will also boost trade between Malindi and Voi towns as it will be easier for traders to ferry their produce to markets in the two towns.