Bellevue Hotel at the coast. [Photo/Coast Hotels]
Hotels on the coast are expected to be fully booked from December 20 for the festive season up to Easter holidays in April next year.
Tourism investors in the area have revealed that the Italian Market is making a grand come back to the resort town and is the one with the highest number of guests expected.
Earlier the Italians who were popular tourists visiting both Malindi and Watamu had reduced in numbers due to the political tensions and Insecurity in the country.
Hoteliers said Italian market has gained confidence in touring the resort town after the earlier fears of violence and unrest since the Disputed August 8 elections.
Guido Bertoni the General Manager of Garoda beach resort in Watamu said they expect hotels to be full from December 20.
Speaking in Watamu Guido said tourists also gained confidence after the foreign media stopped the bad publicity abroad which was really affecting the image of Kenya.
“The state of tourism is picking off after the crisis that lasted over four years, the wind is going another direction, after elections, reelections, there has been no bad press or riots,’’ he said.
The hotelier said they have evidence which shows by December 22 to Easter holidays the occupancy will be amazing as hotels will be fully booked.
This week he said they had two Indian weddings that are a major attraction.
He said Watamu is a renowned tourist destination with the best beach in Africa and tourists will be flocking in for their festive holidays.
Bertoni said they were now eying other destinations so as to help end the low season that begins from April to July to ensure smooth flow of tourists throughout the year.
Normally hotels close down business because of the nature of Market particularly the Italian tourists but by exploring other potential markets it will be easier to sustain the industry.
Bertoni said tourism is the main driver of the economy in both Malindi and Watamu adding that if the hotels are open the economy is good for all.
However, he said for the Malindi and Watamu to get tourists from other destinations the International Airport must be expanded to accommodate larger flights from Europe.
“We need an international airport in Malindi, if it’s expanded we can have tourists throughout the year,’’ he said.
Other potential markets he said include the German, Swiss, Austria and French.
The hotelier wondered why it has taken long for the government to complete the expansion works at the Malindi airport despite the fact that it already was written at the entrance – Malindi International Airport.
He said Ethiopian airlines has for the past three years sought license to fly direct to Malindi with an embryo plane that can land in the current airport in vain
The Domestic market he said is not sustainable because they only visit in August for four weeks, December 20 to January 30 and during long weekends.
“Domestic tourism is just a drop in the market,’’ he said.
Watamu has over 21 hotels which are all in operation during this festive season.
Roberto Macri a former Italian consulate for Malindi who is now the General Manager of Seven Islands resort in Watamu said investors shifted to Watamu because it’s safe, beaches are clean and people can walk freely.
Macri said investors are complaining to date include the delay in expanding the Malindi airport which has lasted over 25 years.
“Currently tourists from Europe have to travel by road after an eight-hour flight from Mombasa to Malindi or Watamu which is tiresome,’’ he said.
This development will be further boosted once International flights land directly in Malindi from Europe.
Macri said it will be easier to attract other markets like Russia, Slovenia among other nations.