The economy of Kwale County received a major boost following the huge number of tourists that flocked the county during the December-January holidays.
Having been voted the best beach destination in Africa for five years, the South Coast region attracted more foreign visitors than before.
Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya promised to keep the destination on top and the trophy that Kwale County was awarded, through development strategies and the creation of a better environment.
Speaking at his office in Kwale when he hosted the Cabinet Secretary for Tourism Najib Balala, Mvurya said that the County and national governments have lined up several projects that will ensure the number of tourists visiting the South Coast increases.
The Ukunda Airstrip, Mvurya said, will have its runway increased from a stretch of 1.2km to 1.8km and will be able to receive bigger international flights.
Through partnership with the National Government also, the ongoing tarmacking of the Samburu-Kinango-Kwale road will enable the tourists stay at beach hotels as well as visit the parks like Tsavo National Park, Shimba Hills National Reserve and be able to return to the beaches at their pleasure.
Other tourist attraction ventures set to keep Kwale County at the forefront as a tourist destination of choice are the Maji Moto hot springs in Mrima and the Chale Marine Park among others.
The County has also pledged to support the Beach Tours operators by erecting stalls along the access roads in the public beaches like Trade Winds where the road has been paved with cabro, the Papillion Lagoon beach where about 50 stalls will be built, as well as the Nakumatt Beach road.
This will enable traders to sell their wares to the tourist to boost incomes and increase the County’s revenue.
“We will put street lights along the stalls as well as erect stalls that will enable our people to work well even during odd hours,” the governor said on Tuesday.
The governor added that he expects the number of international and local tourists visiting Kwale County to increase through these efforts.
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