Boost for tourism as cruise ship brings 1,049 tourists

The tourism industry today got a major boost when a luxury cruise ship arrived in Mombasa with 1049 tourists on board. MS Nautica, a regular caller at the Port sailed into the harbour some minutes past 7.00 am from Zanzibar, Tanzania for a day long. On board the vessel were 654 passengers and 395 crew members.

The ship was received by officials from Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) and Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) wh,o handed over gifts and booklets containing information on Kenya to the passengers. It was scheduled to leave for Port Victoria in the Seychelles as part of its cruise voyage in the Indian Ocean.

MS Nautica made a similar visit in Mombasa last December. Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Principal Corporate Communications Officer, Mr Haji Masemo who represented KPA Managing director, Ms Catherine Mturi-Wairi said that constructions works for the modern cruise terminal had started in earnest.

“The contractor is already on site at berth number one where partitioning works are underway. We hope to have a modern terminal in place when the next cruise tourism season kicks by Septermber this year,’’ Masemo said.

KPA has set aside Sh150 million towards the construction of the modern cruise terminal whose launch was presided over last December by Tourism Cabinet Secretary, Najib Balala. Trade Mark East Africa is also contributing sh 100 million towards the new terminal which is expected to attract more cruise ships from Europe and other tourist destinations.

[crp]