MERIDIANA RESUMES CHARTER FLIGHTS FROM ITALY
(Posted 30th July 2014)
The resumption of charter flights from Italy, following the end of the low season, has already boosted the fortunes of several resorts and hotels at the Kenya coast, mainly in Malindi and the Watamu area which are heavily frequented by Italian tourists and are the home of many Italian expatriates now living in Kenya.
A coast source has put the number of tourists to around 500 who arrived over the past two days on Meridiana and on NEOS and who were taken by road to their resort hotels.
Several hotels which had closed during the low season period have reportedly reopened and are back in business, after recalling their staff. Tourism sources from the coast have broadly welcomed the return of the charters from Italy and have expressed cautious optimism that the market downturn has reached its low point. Concerns however were also mentioned and one in particular stressed the urgency to provide security for the tourists, at the beaches as well as during their excursions to visit attractions along the Kenya coast where the ruins of Gedi, among others, have in the past drawn a lot of visitors through the gates. ‘Italians have in the past liked trips by air to Lamu but I am not sure how those trips will now sell. I hope that the direct route from Malindi to the Tsavo East National Park will be ok because short safaris for one or two nights have also been popular among Italian tourists. For now we are just happy to have tourists arrive in good numbers and hope they can enjoy their holiday in Kenya’ commented one source. For more information about the destination click on www.magicalkenya.com
