Boost to Kenya’s Economy as Two Cruise Ships Dock in Mombasa
By Mwakwaya Raymond
Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com
Coast regional economy gets a jab in the arm after the arrival of some 1,600 Tourists at the Port of Mombasa.
The tourists who docked at the port aboard two passenger cruise ships came as a surprise to the tourism sector which will definitely elevate the harsh economic situation as witnessed across the country.
According to the managing director Kenya Ports Authority Captain William Ruto the arrivals on February 17, 2025 and will stay for a period of six days before departing for another destination.
Addressing the media at the port after receiving the two vessels, he confirmed indeed the economic situation is likely to change for the good as the tourists crisscross the country in their exertion trips.
He said the tourists would be visiting various tourists attraction sites across the region and the country at large.
According to him the peace and harmony being witnessed across the Kenyan territory is a great charm for tourists to visit the country.
“Tourists like visiting places where Peace is prevailing unconditionally across the country.”
He singled out the cordial relationship between the local county, KPA and the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) as the most crucial component in revamping the tourism sector.
He also emphasized the need to foster such relationships with other relevant government entities in marketing Kenya as a tourist destination.
“Sometime this year we shall be attending a world conference not just to market KPA but Kenya as a whole.”
He noted that plans were underway to designate some berths at the point to receive several cruise ship.
“This year one of the largest cruise ship will be docking in Mombasa and we’ve already initiated some plans on how we are going to receive the vessel.”
On her part, the deputy director KTB public relations and corporate communication Wausi Walya said the port was a centre of attraction to so many tourists and it immensely contributes so much in the growth of the tourism sector.
She said the port in particular was the only one along the Indian Ocean strip with conducive cruise ship docking facilities for tourists that link them directly to several tourists destination sites hence attracting lots of tourists across the globe.
She added that already several tourists who arrived on Monday (February 17) aboard the two cruise ship have departed to various sites such as Amboseli, Tsavo National Park while others have gone to Vipingo Ridge to have a taste of the golf course which happens to be one of the best in the world.
Dag Duergastein, one of the cruise ship Captain, said Kenya was a gateway to most of the tourists sites and that several tourists like using the port to access all the sites with ease.
He affirmed that indeed a lot of foreign exchange would be earned throughout the six days that the ship would be in Kenya.
