Tourism has recorded a 40 per cent drop in visitor arrivals to Malindi compared to last year.

Speaking at his office the Italian consulate Roberto Macri said that a total of 15 charter flights jets into the country weekly from Italy.

The consulate said that the situation had been occasioned by an economic slump witnessed by most European countries forcing would be tourists to abandon travel. The situation has been made worse by a collision of climates in the European countries as both are enjoying the summer season.

Malindi town, commonly known as “The Small Italy”, receives about 90 per cent visitors from Italy, who also dominate major businesses in hotels and luxurious villas where foreigners come to enjoy their holidays.

Mr Macri says the problem had been compounded by the recent referendum exercise where foreigners predicted outbreak of chaos.

“Already the bed occupancy in most hotels has improved considerably and more visitors have already chartered flights in anticipation of visiting the otherwise peaceful country,” he asserted.

He said that almost all the flights were making a stopover in Zanzibar before jetting into the country for fear of violence, adding that there was also need to improve on the infrastructure and security along the coastal line to attract more visitors.

He said that a large number of tourists opt to remain in Zanzibar because of the prevailing peace both in the beaches and hotels unlike Kenya where tourists were sometimes harassed by idlers.