The port of Mombasa on Sunday welcomed an Omani luxury cruise ship on a four-day visit with 350 voyagers on board.
The Omani super yacht christened Fulk Al Salamah (ship of peace) is the World’s newest yacht and set sail from Oman in October 6 for an East Africa voyage.
The yacht first sailed from Sultan Qoboos Port in Oman to Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam and Mombasa. The reception ceremony was attended by Tourism Cabinet Secretary (CS) Najib Balala, Mombasa Deputy Governor Dr William Kingi and Kenya’s Ambassador to Oman Sheikh Mohamed Dor.
Balala said the luxury yacht began the East African trip on the orders of Sultan Qoboos Bin Said to revive the Omani maritime heritage.
He said the historic voyage will strengthen the long relationship between Kenya and the sultanate of Oman.
“The docking of this prestigious cruise ship is historic and a milestone in tourism sector,” he said.
The CS said the government would increase efforts to promote more cruise ship tourism in the country as a way of boosting the economy.
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“We are positioning Kenya as a quality cruise destination and the arrival of this super yacht will go a long way in boosting cruise ship tourism,” he said.
He said his ministry was determined to increase the country’s share of the lucrative but highly competitive international cruise industry.
On Thursday’s repeat presidential poll, the CS appealed for calm noting peace was a prerequisite for the country’s economic recovery efforts.
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