Tourism players in
THE COMPETITION
The stakeholders who include investors, hotel managers, beach operators
Here is a quick recap of the work done to clean up Snow Beach for the first official event of the conference! Thank you to all of the partners, participants, volunteers that were involved showing that we can really do this together! 🌊🇱🇷#blueoceansconferenceliberia #trashtag pic.twitter.com/eqVdjFm9pm
— Blue Oceans Liberia (@BlueOceansLIB) March 18, 2019
Mr Roberto Macri, Ocean Beach Resort managing director, who chaired the stakeholders meeting, also attended by county government officials, said they are slowly losing international tourists to Zanzibar and Mozambique.
Our resolve to transform Mombasa into a vibrant regional economic hub got a big boost today as Qatar Airways inaugural scheduled direct flight from Doha landed at the Moi
— Governor Hassan Joho (@HassanAliJoho) December 9, 2018
International Airport, Mombasa. @qatarairways #MombasaTogether pic.twitter.com/6Ncc2HQEYo
“Modern day tourists prefer destinations where they spend less time of about 15 to 30 minutes to the hotel after arriving at the airport,” he said, adding “lack of direct flights to Malindi International Airport usually forces tourists to book in resorts in Mombasa and Diani.”
TRANSPORTATION LINKS
Malindi Airport is key to businesses and tourism in the North Coast region since it links transportation system between Lamu, Tana River and Kilifi Counties.
“Malindi is one of the important tourism hub in the North Coast region, which attracts celebrities and prominent international businessmen. The airport will provide an opportunity for investments and grow the regional’s economy,” she added.
Currently, Malindi International Airport handles domestic flights and this has been cited as a major stumbling block to tourism recovery campaigns as international holidaymakers travel for longer hours before reaching the North Coast.
ON-GOING EXPANSION
Pavement rehabilitation works at Moi Intl. Airport are divided into 3 parts i.e Civil Works which comprises of: Rehabilitation of the entire runway pavements, Reconstruction of some sections of the taxiways, and aprons and removal and replacement of pre-cast concrete slabs. pic.twitter.com/mEi29w218O
— Kenya Airports (@KenyaAirports) November 20, 2018
In the last financial year 2017/2018, the government committed Sh1.5 billion for expansion of the airport runway from the current 1.4 kilometres to 2.5 kilometres and already completed the first phase of compensation to families whose land will be used for the project.
The government has also spent another Sh300 million on phase one of the airport’s expansion, which includes expansion of the airport’s apron, construction of a car park and a 7.5km security fence.
Mr Macri said tourists are forced to fly from Europe to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi before boarding domestic flights to Moi International Airport in Mombasa or to Malindi Airport.