Tourism Boom As Another Cruise Ship Docks In Mombasa

Kenya’s tourism sector is set to get a boost after the country welcomed another cruise ship with more than 800 tourists at the height of Christmas and new year festivities.

This comes as the country expects at least three more cruise ships to call at the port of Mombasa by the end of March 2023 with hoteliers expecting to make a kill.

Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Penina Malonza, who received MS Nautica cruise ship, said accommodation facilities and tourism spots are full to the brim in most of the tourist destinations in the country.

“I can, without doubt, say that out of the arrival of this cruise ship, over 100 million shillings will be injected into the economy through tourism activities including visits to different attractions as well as accommodation,” said Malonza.

The CS said the covid 19 pandemic hugely impacted international arrivals highlighting the important role of domestic tourism. While the domestic market remains the biggest source since the pandemic struck, there is a good response from the international market this year.

In the eight months to August, the country recorded a 91.3 percent increase in the number of international tourists. Total arrivals for the eight months were 924,812, up from 483, 246 recorded in a corresponding period last year. During the period, the tourism sector earnings hit 167 billion shillings up from the 83 billion shillings recorded in a similar period last year.

Holidaymakers recorded the highest number of arrivals at 313,466 visitors. Some 274, 722, visitors came to the country to visit family and friends. Visitors who arrived for education purposes were 16,196, while 1,362 came into the country for sporting activities.

The CS said the government is rolling out some plans to grow cruise tourism as a niche product. This includes improving facilities and services and diversifying excursions and marketing them to cruise passengers on expeditions in the destination.

“The government has already put in place infrastructure projects such as the upgrade of the Moi International Airport in Mombasa and Diani Airport in Kwale county, as well as road infrastructure to support tourism,” she added.

The ministry of tourism projects an increase in the number of total arrivals this year to 1.4 million, an increase from the 870,467 recorded at the end of December last year.

Earnings are expected to grow to 265.4 billion shillings up from 146.5 billion shillings recorded at the end of December 2021. Kenya forecasts to have 1.9 million international tourists next year with the number expected to grow to 2.2 million in 2024, with full recovery on international numbers expected between 2023 and 2024.