Medina Palms invites you to visit The Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club in Nairobi, it is our preferred hotel and we recommend that you use this hotel on your journey to and from Medina Palms Watamu.
Sunday 21st February 2010
Watamu Villagers Back Sh1bn Villas Project
THE NATION NEWSPAPER KENYA
Saturday 20th February 2010
Watamu Villagers Back Sh1bn Villas Project
By DANIEL NYASSY
Villagers have resolved to support a Sh1 billion tourism project in Watamu, Malindi District. At a public hearing organised by the National Environment Management Authority, the residents said the Medina Palms Luxury Residential/Commercial Project will bring economic benefits to the area.
The meeting, at Watamu chief’s office grounds, threatened to turn rowdy as the project’s critics tried to disrupt it but district commissioner Arthur Mugira saved the day.
“If you have no business other than to oppose the project for the sake of it, go home. I won’t tolerate any nonsense. We came here to hear views from stakeholders, wananchi and professionals and not hooligans,” Mr Mugira said. Calm was restored and the majority of residents supported the project, which had received a go-ahead from Nema earlier. But some residents petitioned the National Environment Tribunal, leading to a fresh environmental impact assessment (EIA) report.
Supporters of the project argued that it would create employment for more than 200 local youths, open up Watamu as a tourist destination and encourage subsidiary activities such as boat operations and wood carving.
Those supporting it said all environmental issues had been addressed and a waste management plant was in place. The proprietor, Mr Nigel Rowley, told the meeting he would employ 70 per cent of the workers from the area.
“The rooms will be occupied throughout the year by holidaymakers. All matters pertaining to the law and environment have been put in place for this project. It’s not a backdoor investment but a lawful undertaking,” said Mr Rowley.
Nema deputy director Betty Nzioka said they will study the new EIA and give their verdict on the project in two weeks.
Monday 18th January 2010
ATTAK Newswire: 2922 - Kenya calls on Tanzania to promote tourism jointly
Kenya calls on Tanzania to jointly promote tourism
The East African Community (EAC)is preparing a strategy to sell its five partner states as a single tourism destination, and Kenya is now calling for a memorandum of understanding with Tanzania on the development and promotion of the industry.
Monday 18th January 2010
UK Visitors to Kenya
In November 2009 there were 11,799 UK visitors to Kenya, this is +27.3% on November 2008 (9,270) and takes the cumulative 2009 figure to 148,520, up 38.8% over 2008. IN addition the UK has recovered 80% of 2007 arrivals
Monday 18th January 2010
Medina Palms Sponsor Kenyan Polo Tournament
The final tournament of the Kenya Polo season is the Manyatta Xmas Tournament held at the Manyatta Polo Club in Gilgil in the Great Rift Valley, Kenya.
Medina Palms very generously sponsored both weekends in December 2009 of the tournament. The first weekend was a low key affair - the emphasis being on promoting up and coming junior players. Medina Palms Team comprised of Michael Camm, the oldest polo player in Kenya at 65 years of age and currently handicapped at 0; 1 goaler, Johnson Asenga, who was playing young horses new to polo; Ashe Ahluwalia, a keen polo player and mountain bike rider, rated at 0 goals; and his 16 year-old daughter, Amber, whose handicap rose to -1 as a result of her performance in the tournament.
Amber Ahluwalia, Ashe Ahluwalia and Johnson Asenga
Please click “Read More” to view the full polo gallery
Thursday 19th November 2009
Charity Cycle Ride Raises Funds For Lion Conservation in Kenya
Nigel Rowley, MD, Medina Palms recently cycled 1070 miles across Britain, from Lands End to John O’Groats to raise funds for the Born Free Foundation lion conservation project in Kenya.
In the last few years, Africa has lost 70% of its lions and today as few as 16,500 animals remain. In Kenya, a stronghold for lions in Africa, as few as 2000 lions remain. The lion’s hunting grounds have been lost to agriculture and farmers use poisons, rifles and snares. Prey species have been depleted, populations have become fragmented, and it is still legal to shoot lions for ’sport’. Africa without lions is unimaginable. This project aims to raise money for lion conservation projects but also create awareness of the drastic decline in lion numbers and highlight what can be done to improve the situation.
Virginia McKenna, Founder, The Born Free Foundation receiving a cheque at Elsas Kopje Lodge , Meru National Park for 300,000 Kenyan Shillings (£2,400 GBP)
from Nigel G Rowley, MD, Medina Palms Watamu Kenya
In additon Nigel raised 300,000 KHs for The Watamu Community Hospital
Thursday 19th November 2009
Tourism Seen Picking Up To 2007 Levels
By WANGUI MAINA - Africa Business Daily - 4th Nov 09
A full recovery in Kenya’s tourism sector could come earlier than anticipated following positive signs in the world economy that is expected to uplift travel market.
The sector is optimistic it could reach the 2007 highs of two million guests sooner though revenues are not expected to reach Sh65 billion due to discounting offered this year in a bid to attract visitors.
Numbers are only 12 per cent down compared to 2007.
Players see the country gaining from as early as next month with bookings materialising.
Tour operators mainly make bookings in advance but tourists have a 30-day release period within which to choose to cancel planned travel.
“This is good for us as we could see bookings being realised. This could take effect as early as this holiday season,” said Mrs Agatha Juma, the chief executive of Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF).
The Coast is gearing up to receive more charters next month, showing more visitors are expected.
Mr Paul Norman, the general manager of Holiday Inn, said this year has been promising for the city hotels compared to 2008 and the improving economies “can only be good” for the sector.
He noted that business travel and corporate business has sustained players in the city and there is currently a pick in leisure travel that is expected to increase.
In the first nine months of the year, arrivals grew by 38 per cent to 496,056 compared to the same period last year and only 12 per cent below 2007 figures.
Revenues increased by 10 per cent as of August 2009 to Sh36.64 billion compared to the same period last year.
This growth has been attributed to the recovery strategy the country put in place after the post-election violence and after the economic crisis hit the travel market.
Since last year, the government and sector players have invested billions of shillings to open new markets and tell source markets that he country was safe.
This recovery optimism is shared by the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) that says that the sector as a whole is on the road to recovery by 2010.
In a statement the secretary-general of UNWTO, Mr Taleb Rifai, recently noted that tourism was showing signs that confidence is returning and that demand was improving for both business and leisure travel.
“Though much uncertainty persists, there are signs that the turning point may also have been reached in the tourism sector,” he said.
Africa has shown positive results recording a four per cent growth as of July 2009 as all other regions recorded a decrease in arrivals for the first seven months.
The growth in Africa, according to UNWTO, has mainly been driven by North African destinations, South Africa, Swaziland and Kenya.
Major earner
Players are optimistic the country’s recovery will be faster than was earlier anticipated going by the number of arrivals.
Markets like South Africa, China, UAE, Russia, Tanzania and Uganda have fully recovered and surpassed 2007 levels.
Key source markets to Kenya have shown over 70 per cent recovery with the US recording 98 per cent with 78,691 arrivals.
UK recorded 122,327 arrivals, an 80 per cent recovery, while Germany and Italy recorded 48,573 and 45,184 visitors.
The recovery in Kenya shows that the strategy that was put in place since last year following the post-election violence and the economic crisis has borne fruits.
Players focused on the country’s safety and reaching new markets.
Tourism has been a major foreign exchange earner for the economy.
Tuesday 17th November 2009
Watamu Property Investment Update - October 2009
The demand for quality holiday houses to buy and to rent in Watamu remains high, in particular on the Indian Ocean adjacent to the Marine Park. Beachfront properties in this location rarely come onto the market and now even the second row Mida Creek side, properties are becoming scarce with the majority of plots being snapped up as soon as they come on the market.
Tuesday 10th November 2009
Construction Industry in Mombasa and along the Kenyan Coast
There is presently good building activity in this region despite tourism being down:
the main reason being the interest shown by upcountry locals who have over the years become very fond of the Coastal lifestyle.
Wednesday 4th November 2009
Watamu Community Hospital Opens
Charity Cycle Ride Raises Funds For Watamu Community Hospital
Nigel Rowley, MD, Medina Palms recently cycled 1070 miles across Britain, from Lands End to John O’Groats to raise funds for the new Watamu Community Hospital. This project will provide vital community facilities and is funded purely by private donations and run by Dr Eugene Erulu, who has extensive experience with the local community.
TRIP DATA 1070 total miles cycled (av. 82.3 per day, no rest days !)
98hrs 58mins in the saddle over 13 Days
Average speed for the whole trip….. in wind, rain, with full panniers was 10.85 mph and I finished a day early in 13 days. My highest top speed recorded was 45 mph in the wet, just before my front tyre had a puncture. I am glad the road was empty. I travelled over 90 miles on several days and survived despite exploding tyres, punctures (4 in one day in Devon) and broken spokes (3 on the final day) and HGVs trying to shorten my existence.
A BIG thank you to everyone who sponsored me and helped to raise much needed funds, with 300,000 KHS given to the Watamu Community Hospital for much needed equipment.
Presentation of Funds to WCH Left to Right
Dr Eugene Erulu
Nigel Rowley
Councilor Barke Ali Mohamed
District Officer for Malindi Mrs J.W. Njenga
