Cruise tourism on the rise in Kenya

By Wilkister Muga 

Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) has said that cruise tourism has significantly increased this year compared to other years .

Over 2700 tourists have landed at the Port of Mombasa aboard various cruise ships since the start of the year.

Speaking at the Port after receiving 284 tourists who docked via the MS Sliver Cloud cruise ship, KTB Managing Director Ndegwa Muriithi said they have worked closely with Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) to ensure Mombasa becomes a popular Port of call by cruise ships. Kenya is a member of the Cruise Indian Ocean Association.

Last week Seven Seas Voyager cruise ship docked at the port with over 1000 passengers.

The country is seeing the revival of cruise tourism after a long dry spell due insecurity caused by pirates in Kenyan waters of the Indian Ocean.

Muriithi noted that the coming of President Obama, Pope Francis and the latest World Trade Organization conference has played a great role in portraying the country positively.

Muriithi said Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) will next year participate in the Miami Convention, which is a major cruise tourism convention to market the port.