As Kenya seeks more frontiers to boost the economy, the Ministry of Tourism led by Cabinet Secretary Peninah Malonza, delved into cruise tourism.
In the past two months, the country received three cruise ships that were expected to inject Ksh99.9 million (USD 800,000) into the economy.
According to the CS, Kenya expects three more cruise ships to dock at the port before the end of March 2023.
Additionally, the Tourism Principal Secretary John Ololtuaa emphasised that cruise tourism formed a crucial part of tourism that the government is also banking on to grow the sector.
“Cruise tourism is a high-value market worth billions of dollars,” he added.
The industry is anticipated to be worth Ksh1.8 trillion (USD 15 billion) worldwide by 2028 with South Africa getting the lion share in Africa.
In November 2022, a cruise ship, nicknamed ‘floating campus’ carrying 500 students, caught the attention of many Kenyans when it arrived at the port of Mombasa.
While at the port for about five days, the student tourists contributed to the country’s revenue generation by visiting various tourist attraction sites and buying cultural artifacts.
The second ship docked at the port in December 2022, with over 800 tourists who, according to Malonza, had made Magical Kenya part of their cruise itinerary.
“Without a doubt, I can assure you that the arrival of this cruise ship has injected over Ksh100 million into the economy through tourism activities,” Malonza disclosed as she ushered the tourists.
On January 27, another ship with 620 passengers and 175 crew members on board docked at the same port of Mombasa for six days before heading to Jordan.
All members onboard were expected to indulge in some of the activities that will boost the economy including fine dining at the exclusive beach resorts along the coast as well as buying mementos in the numerous curio shops.
The scaling up of cruise tourism, according to the PS, was due to the improved infrastructure, improved security and the Indian Ocean being removed from the high-risk areas by the International Maritime Organisation.
Conclusively, he stated that the ministry was in discussion with their counterparts from the Ministry of Transport to pave way for the tourists’ travel from the port to other parts of the country through direct flights and other means.
Source: kENYANS.CO.KE
