Tourism stakeholders in Kilifi County are seeking to position Mambrui’s iconic sand dunes as a major international tourist attraction, with plans underway to promote the destination and attract more visitors.

The dunes, popularly known as the Mambrui Sand Dunes, have continued to draw tourists from across Kenya and beyond, thanks to their unique landscape and scenic beauty.

Kilifi County Executive Committee Member for Tourism Raymond Ngala said Mambrui had emerged as one of the county’s growing tourist destinations, attracting both domestic and international visitors.

“Mambrui has emerged as one of the key tourist destinations in Kilifi County, attracting both local and international visitors. We are working with the community to develop strategies to market the area internationally,” said Ngala during the World Tourism Day Celebrations.

Holiday makers prepare for a motor ride at the scenic Mambrui Sand Dunes in Magarini Constituency of Kilifi County during the World Tourism Day celebrations. Tourism stakeholders have announced plans to market the dunes as an international tourist attraction site.

He revealed that one of the proposed measures was to secure ownership of the area under the county government to ensure it remains a public tourist attraction.

“We are exploring ways of securing ownership of the area as a county government to ensure it remains accessible to the public,” he added.

Chief Officer for Tourism Herbert Mwachiro said the initiative would actively involve the local community, which has already begun benefiting from the growing number of visitors.

“The plan will fully involve the local community, which is already benefiting from the area’s growing popularity. We want to ensure residents continue to benefit from the tourism opportunities available,” said Mwachiro.

Meanwhile, Mambrui Community-Based Organisation chairman Julius Msanzu said the sand dunes receive approximately 500 tourists every week, highlighting the growing popularity of the destination.

“We receive about 500 tourists every week, and we are appealing to the county government to improve infrastructure, particularly the access road, to make it easier for visitors to reach the area,” said Msanzu.

He said improved infrastructure would help attract more tourists and boost economic opportunities for the local community.

By Shani Rhai and Emmanuel Masha