Malindi attracts more Rich Italian Investors

Franco Rosso, an Italian investor has opened another luxurious hotel in Malindi, in addition to two others he built on the shores of Indian Ocean.

This comes at a time when other investors are closing their beach hotels in Funzi Island and Mombasa due to low tourist numbers.

Mr. Rosso, the owner of Diamonds Dream of Africa and Sandies Tropical Village hotels in Malindi, opened Malindi Dream Garden in March 2018. He also has a chain of other beach resorts in different parts of Africa, Italy, and Switzerland.

Mr. Rosso believes that the region will soon be like Miami.

“The beach is beautiful, there is a marine park and next to it, Gedi Ruins. These, together with Arabuko Sokoke and Tsavo East National Park have made the historic resort town a tourism destination,” the investor said.

According to Mr. Rosso, there is no poor timing. He hinted that soon he will build the first 20 storey skyscraper resort at the former Malindi beach hotel to attract more tourists and other investments in the town.

“The state-of-the-art project shall be constructed soon at the Malindi beach and Coconut village hotels which were closed down over four years ago due to low business,” he said.

Mr. Rosso first came to the country in the 70s where he used to own Fracorosso Tour, the first Italian tour company to operate in Kenya.

He has tremendous hope for Malindi town. He is convinced that in a decade to come, it will be “the most important center of the coast”. By then, he added, tourists will be able to fly directly to the destination once the expansion of Malindi Airport is completed.

Flavio Briatore, a former Formula One boss, is another investor with two hotels in Malindi. He also plans to set up another property in Mayungu, where he said he has huge tracts of land.

His hotels are frequented by rich tourists, his ex-girlfriend and presumptive business partner Naomi Campbell and former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.