MOMBASA MAKING A COMEBACK

Posted on 11/20/2015 | About Mombasa, Kenya

This year the port of Mombasa in Kenya has welcomed 2,500 passengers - a significant increase over the past five years, with another ship expected to arrive by the end of the month. The evident recovery of the cruise industry has been attributed to the decline in pirate attacks in the Somalian waters and hence the lifting of travel warnings to Mombasa by the US and UK governments.

The number of cruise passengers is still a far cry from the 10,000 visitors that were arriving annually five years ago. Kenya Tourism Board managing director Muriithi Ndegwa said this week that the board, in collaboration with the Kenya Ports Authority, would aggressively market the destination in a bid to attract more cruise tourists. The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) will spend Sh100 million to construct a terminal for welcoming tourists on cruise ships at the port of Mombasa.

In June World Travel Awards voted the port of Mombasa Africa’s best cruise port. The MS Insignia operated by Oceania Cruises docked with more than 1,000 tourists and crew this week. Last week MS Nautica, also operated by Oceania Cruises brought 1,000 guests. In 2014 they received 900 people in total. Most of the passengers were from US, the UK, Germany, Australia, Canada, Norway and South Africa.

Visitors arrive planning to visit game reserves, rare bird habitats, the Mwalughanje Elephant Sanctuary and safaris. In anticipation of even more passengers expected in the coming years, Kenya Port Authority principal communications officer Haji Masemo said construction would start on a new terminal in 2016. “Following a decline in pirate attacks, thanks to the efforts of the Kenya Defence Forces and naval forces of the international community, cruise ships are now coming back to Mombasa,” Masemo said.

“That is why it is necessary for the port to have a terminal where tourists can rest on arrival or before departure.” Ndegwa has high expectations. “Cruise tourism benefits the industry more since sea travellers are big spenders.”