"We have three strengths on which to leverage: the wonderful climate all year round, the proximity of Tsavo East and the kindness of the local people. From these three elements we must start to take steps to improve the many things that do not go."
Are the words of Roger Jones, a consultant to the Ministry of Tourism commissioned to revolutionize the marketing and promotion of the sector and identify a process of healing and revitalization of the tourist areas of Kenya.
Jones presented yesterday at Ocean Beach, together with Fred Okeyo of Kenya Tourist Board, the "Kenya Beach Destination Strategy".
It is a very detailed plan that will unfold over the next eighteen. "Vision 2035", to feel it as well put a little 'fear, in a land accustomed to reckon with at most the morning, but the ideas of the THR manager, advisor Spaniard who has already re-launched tourism in Greece, Red Sea and Catalonia, are very specific and symptomatic of who in six months of uninterrupted laps felt a bit 'how things are done in Kenya.
"Each destination has its own peculiarities and weaknesses, although many are congenital and are part of the country - said Jones - Malindi there are top priorities such as roads and urban furniture, garbage collection, the redevelopment of abandoned buildings or in poor condition and classification of hotels ". Are some of the points made by Jones, who nevertheless acknowledged the fundamental contribution to this since the International Airport, referred to as "sine qua non" for the revival of Malindi Roberto Marini, entrepreneur and one Italian member of the Kenya Tourist Federation in Nairobi. There are other parallel applications from months of operators ago and already included in the report which will be presented Feb. 10 at the Minister Balala: a cumbersome bureaucracy that does not faiclità the work of those working in the tourism sector, the lack of cooperation between different institutions they should unite in the name of tourism which represents the largest revenue of the town, with its supply. And so on.
"Malindi must know how to differentiate from other major coastal destinations - said Jones - Watamu has its own needs and its peculiarities, so Lamu, Mombasa and Diani. For Malindi, as well as focus on the historicity of the name (it's one of the resort Ocean Indian universally known), we are appealing to business tourism, conferences, the nightlife, shopping, culture, social issues. in addition to the sea, sports and safari. It 'a place with multiple resources, as well as a hub for other places in Kilifi County. "
The meeting, in addition to important malindini resort manager as Ocean Beach, Kilili Baharini, Kola Beach, Billionaire, Driftwood, White Elephant, was also the Chief Officer of the County of Kilifi, Patience Tsimba, which confirmed its intention to work closely with malindini entrepreneurs to facilitate solutions and announced the creation of a special office under the auspices of Kilifi County Tourist Board.
In the coming days malindikenya.net make public the report prepared by the THR regarding destination Malindi.