Cycling to conserve Africa’s best beach-Diani
Diani Cycling Association,creates awareness on the need to conserve the environment along the beach/Photo Caroline kahonzi
By Caroline kahonzi
Neptune village beach resort and spa Diani has partnered with Diani cycling association Kwale county to create awareness among locals in Diani and Ukunda on the importance of conserving the environment especially along the beach.
Speaking to journalists after cleaning Neptune beach, the director of operations Neptune hotels east Africa Vickram korla said it is important to have a safe and conducive environment around the beach .
“As you know Diani beach has been voted as the best beach in Africa 7 times in a row ,but we have to keep it clean because this is God’s gift to Kenya , we are using cycling to create awareness for the community within Ukunda on the importance of conserving the Environment .
Mr. Korla urged the community to ensure they maintain cleanliness along the beach as a way of attracting more tourists .
“You can’t kill the goose that lays the golden eggs ,the beach is what brings tourists to Kenya and the feeling of safe and secured environment ,if we leave this beach dirty and the guests coming here don’t feel safe within the environment ,they will stop coming and that will be a big blow to us and our economy ,”Said Mr.Korla .
Korla is now calling upon the government to have an open sky policy that will allow commercial aircrafts land at the Mombasa international airport .
“As you all know we had trying times during the Covid-19 ,for the last two months the business has been good , as a member of Kenya association of hotel keepers and caterers coast region , we are trying to lobby the National government to have an open air policy to allow commercial aircrafts land at Mombasa international airport this will bring us more tourists ,”Noted Mr .Korla .
On his side Rev. Peter Odanga one of the Diani cycling founders stated the importance of cycling exercise on health issues .
“We came to understand that bicycle cycling is a good way of exercising. Our aim is to create awareness to the community about their health and the benefits of conserving our environment, we have cycled and finally cleaned Neptune beach,”Said Mr.Odanga.
Mr. Odanga termed cycling to be among the tourist attractions in The south coast .
“there many places where tourists can not access because they travel by vans ,in kwale we have places like Chale and Funzi island where one can access through cycling ,so cycling is very important ,so Diani bikes put in place measures of taking tourists to remote areas through cycling ,”Emphasized the Rev.
He added that the cycling that covered approximately 22 kilometers started at leopard beach and ended at Neptune beach Diani with beach cleaning exercises .
Echoing his sentiments Nashon Onyalo, an investor in Diani called upon investors to come out in numbers and support the development initiatives .
“we are very glad to support initiatives like this , cycling and beach cleaning ,we are talking of sustainable development and global warming ,cycling is very important not only to our health but also to have an environment that’s is healthy and conducive ,”Said Mr.Onyalo
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