Officials during launching of Silverstone Air, in Ukunda, October 10, 2017. [Photo|Salim Mvurya]
Kwale County received yet another major economic boost when a new airline, Silverstone Air, launched a direct flight from Wilson Airport, to Diani, to Kisumu.
Tourist numbers have continued to swell in the County, voted the best tourist destination in Africa for four conservative years, according to the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) Marketing and Business Development General Manager, Jimmy Kibati.
The County administration led by Governor Salim Mvurya received the new flight at the Ukunda Airstrip amidst song and dance, that brought top managers and visitors who revealed that Diani and Kwale County is the best destination and the place to be.
"Between June last year and today, Diani has remained a vibrant destination and the backbone of the tourism industry with the numbers of domestic tourists growing steadily by 17 per cent after foreign visitor numbers declined," said Kibati.
He pledged that KAA would inject massive resources to expand the airstrip facility to a fully fledged airport to tap Kwale's huge potential.
Mvurya said his administration was committed to helping and partnering not only with airlines and KAA to expand the industry, but with all investors yearning to put their wealth in the county.
"Kwale County will take part in an international marketing trade fair in France next month as it has done before in UK and France," said Mvurya, in a communication.
"We have reciprocated as county government by putting cabro on the airstrip road and a 10km solar line dotting the Diani Beach Road. We will do more to make sure Diani and Kwale remain the truly best African destination," he added, Tuesday.
The Finance Manager of Silverstone Air Mr David Ojwang, reading a speech on behalf of his Managing Director Captain Mohamed Somo, said the launching of the airline route was borneout of the increasing demand and suitable business environment in doing business in Diani and Kwale County in general, under the able stewardship of Mvurya.