The six counties of the Kenyan coast will now be promoted under a single brand, with a common logo and seven others for the most important tourist destinations in each region. Mombasa, Kwale, Taita-Taveta, Kilifi, Tana River and Lamu County will all rally around to raise their spirits.
The initiative has been created and promoted by the Kenya Tourist Board, the marketing body of the Ministry of Tourism, together with the Kenya Coast Tourism Association (KCTA) but other tourism associations in the country have also joined the initiative.
The launch of the campaign to promote the coast and its logos took place in Fort Jesus in Mombasa, then KTB moved to Malindi where we met the head of Public Relations, Ann Kanini. It should be noted that Kilifi County is the only one that has two destinations with their own logos and special features to promote.
"This initiative aims to involve travellers, who for now are mainly Kenyan, more closely, showing the uniqueness and at the same time the diversity of coastal destinations - said Kanini - we have a region where there is absolutely nothing missing to make a holiday special: from the wonderful beaches of Diani and Watamu where you can practice water sports and have fun, to the ancient charm but with modern facilities and excellent food in Malindi, from the Lamu archipelago with its traditions to the many offers in Mombasa, from safaris in the East and West Tsavo in Taita-Taveta County to river adventures and the Tana River forests. But each destination in turn has many other attractions: think for example of the Marafa canyon in Malindi, Mida Creek in Watamu, the old town of Mombasa and the dolphin paradise on Wasini Island not far from Diani".
Sector operators applaud this new promotional initiative which, when international tourism returns, will be able to better identify Kenya's coast as a single destination from which to choose (or why not, alternate) individual destinations. A bit like in Egypt for the Red Sea or in Spain for the Costa del Sol.
"It is important that the Government has decided to bet more on the heritage of our coast - explains Philemon Mawala, head of KCTA for County Kilifi - in reality like Malindi, for example, there are important projects to improve the beaches and the promenade, thanks to World Bank funding, and even the roads now connect the different destinations more easily and quickly".
This weekend, the Kenya Tourist Board, in collaboration with hoteliers in Malindi and Watamu, showed the attractions of the two towns to a group of Kenyan journalists and influencers to further launch the destinations in view of the Christmas holidays.
"Too many fellow citizens have never been to these parts before," admits Ann Kanini, "and they are unaware of the many opportunities that coastal resorts offer during a holiday. And we ourselves of the Kenya Tourist Board, coming from these parts, can deepen our knowledge in order to promote even better enchanting and unique places in the national panorama. For example, today, thanks to Malindikenya.net, we know the story of the arrival of Christianity in Kenya, which was not brought by German missionaries in 1844 to Rabai, but arrived through Vasco Da Gama and in a friendly way, not by "colonizers" well before, in 1498. Malindi should also be launched as a religious destination, as a pilgrimage destination for Kenyans and all tourists from East Africa".
(IF YOU WANT TO READ AGAIN THE HISTORY OF THE ARRIVAL OF CHRISTIANITY IN KENYA, CLICK HERE)