Record numbers this year for the Jacaranda Resort in Watamu. There have been over 50,000 “bed nights”—that is, room nights booked this season—a full 13,000 more than last season, representing a gradual increase of 25–30% compared to the post-pandemic years.
This success is not only due to the excellent year experienced by the tourist destination—which now more than any other defines beach vacations in Kenya—but also to the tourism strategy of the resort on the bay of the same name, which diversifies its hospitality offerings from tour operator Alpitour to solutions for Italian and international repeat guests, as well as a significant portion of local tourism.

“This season has gone really well,” explains Jacaranda Resort General Manager, Daniele Tiritò. “Beyond the mere numbers that bring us back to pre-pandemic levels, nearly matching the record year of 2018 (though this comparison isn’t entirely valid, since we had an additional resort back then, which we’ve since leased out), the positive news is that we’ve had nearly 7,000 arrivals since last July.”
One of the factors giving Tiritò cause for optimism is that occupancy rates have also improved during months when tourism in Kenya typically suffers a bit, such as from September to November. 

“Yes, the strong numbers were spread out throughout the entire season. This has allowed us to maintain a high standard of quality and service at all times, without ever letting our guard down,” confirms Tiritò. “In this sense, the local market has also helped us, because it didn’t limit itself to booking for public holidays and weekends; we also had groups, families, and conferences even during periods that are unusual for them, far from the classic school vacations and long weekends.”

The bulk of the influx to Jacaranda Bay and its flagship property, set against the splendor of one of Kenya’s most beautiful stretches of coastline, has nonetheless come from Italy, driven by strong numbers from Alpitour. This tour operator has room agreements in place with Jacaranda, though not an exclusive one, and has received confirmation from loyal customers and agencies that know and sell the resort in our country. The boom in Watamu, moreover, has been evident over the past year through the increase in charter flights. “We’re closing right after Easter, on April 6, and then, as always, we’ll get back on track,” concludes the General Manager of Jacaranda Resort, “since the outlook for the upcoming season is excellent: we’re already quite full for August and have even received requests for the first months of 2027. I must admit that, fortunately, we are not feeling the effects of the crisis in the Middle East at all; those who choose Kenya know it is far removed from certain conflict zones and dangers.”
Meanwhile, the Jacaranda Resort is truly a paradise.