Kilifi county Governor Amason Jeffah Kingi has signed a twining agreement between Malindi tourist resort town and the district of Lombardy, Italy.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is expected to spur Italian investments and increase tourist arrivals from Italy and other Central European countries to North Coast. Kingi, who is leading a delegation to Italy to attend the one-week Milan Expo, said the partnership will promote Malindi in attracting foreign investors and visitors.
“Lombardy is the richest district in Italy and has agreed to partner with Malindi to make it an international tourist destination,” the governor said.
Kingi said Kenya is among 100 countries that are members of the Milan Expo, adding that Malindi county will use this opportunity to show case its investment opportunities, especially in tourism promotion.
Graced by President Uhuru Kenyatta’s visit this week, the expo has given the national government, the private sector and the 47 counties a chance to exhibit their business opportunities.
“The partnership involves an exchange programme under which officials of both parties will interact, exchange ideas and learn from each other different businesses and investment opportunities”.
A special committee comprising officers from the county government and that of Lombardy will soon be established to ensure a smooth implementation of the MOU.
However, the agreement does not give Italians a monopoly in the tourism sector and other investments and other countries that have been investing in Malindi in various businesses will still continue enjoying the same opportunities to ensure fair competition.
The national government, in July announced the allocation of Sh5.6 billion for the tourism industry’s recovery programme in the county.
The stakeholders in the region are now optimistic that the sector, which had plunged to its lowest levels in the last three years following tourist attacks in the coast region, would recover quickly. More than 30 hotels at the Coast had closed business and laid off more than 30,000 hotel workers and in related businesses.
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