Players in the hospitality industry now say they want Kenya to adopt an open skies policy to shore up arrivals.
Hoteliers also want the government to revamp and expand Malindi airport's infrastructure before its implementation.
Inability of international airlines to fly directly to Malindi Airport and chronic traffic snarl ups from Mombasa’s main airport have been blamed for below average tourist numbers in Kilifi County.
Players in the hospitality industry now say they want Kenya to adopt an open skies policy to shore up arrivals in the tourism hub.
Open skies calls for liberalisation of rules and regulations in international aviation — especially commercial flying — in order to create a free-market environment for the airline industry.
Hoteliers are now lobbying for this policy, adding that the government should revamp and expand Malindi airport's infrastructure before its implementation.
Long journey
“Currently, the flights land in Mombasa and then tourists have to take a long journey from MIA (Mombasa airport) to Kibarani and Bombolulu making it difficult...There’s so much politicking around it. We hear money has been allocated. There’s talk of expanding the existing infrastructure or relocating the airport to a bigger space that can grow but bottom line is, we must address the issue of accessibility,” Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC) Coast branch executive officer, Sam Ikwaye, said yesterday.
Meanwhile, Garoda Resort general manager Guido Bertoni and Eden Rock Hotel Malindi sales and marketing manager Daniel Ogechi said the area has potential but claims that government has done little to promote it as a destination and improve infrastructure.
They cited lack of international direct flights between Malindi and Italy and traffic jams at Kibarani towards Moi Airport as major stumbling blocks.
'What is lacking is an international direct flight between Malindi and Italy. Most hotels depend on Italian tourists but it has been a challenge to attract tourists to Kilifi,” Mr Ogechi told Nation on phone.
'No support'
Mr Bertoli, on the other hand, said that most potential clients are not ready to travel more than three hours by road from Moi International Airport to Malindi.
“We try a lot to market this destination, to improve visibility but we have been abandoned because we are not supported by the Ministry of tourism. It is a shame because Garoda Beach is the second best Beach in Africa and the seventh in the World according to the 2015 CNN travel opinion,” he said.
He also blamed the prolonged electioneering period for dwindling numbers this year, saying the hotel was forced to close its doors between September and November.
“Our market was completely stuck. But now bookings are rising. We would like to attract the world. Give us 1.2 kilometre strip tarmac and we are comfortable as investors. The economy will also grow and so will business,” he added.
