Kenya’s cruise
tourism sector is firmly back on a growth trajectory as the country intensifies
efforts to attract five million international visitors by next year, the Kenya
Tourism Board has said.
KTB chief
executive officer June Chepkemei said cruise tourism recorded a 140 per cent
growth last year, with projections indicating an even stronger performance in
2026.
On Sunday, the
Port of Mombasa received the luxury cruise liner Crystal Symphony, carrying
more than 600 tourists and 400 crew members, signalling renewed confidence in Kenya
as a preferred cruise destination.
“The beginning
of the year has already shown that we are set to grow beyond that. Tourism
numbers are on a strong upward trajectory. We are hitting our targets and we
are happy to continue growing the sector,” Chepkemei said.
The Crystal
Symphony docked at the Port of Mombasa on Sunday morning, becoming the first
cruise ship to call at the port this New Year.
“This
particular ship has brought more than 600 travellers and crew members, with about 200
of them disembarking. That goes to show that their presence here is having a
significant impact on the Kenyan Coast,” she said.
Chepkemei said several visitors had already embarked on excursions across different parts
of the Coast, further underscoring the sector’s steady recovery and growth.
The
238-metre-long Bahamas-flagged vessel sailed from South Africa on a seven-day
voyage and was scheduled to stay in Kenya for 48 hours before continuing its
journey to India.
Chepkemei said Kenya had prepared a variety of curated tour experiences for the guests.
The Kenya Ports
Authority reaffirmed its commitment to positioning Mombasa as a leading
cruise tourism hub in the region.
“We are the
premier gateway to East Africa, and we have invested in this cruise terminal.
We support cruise tourism and business ventures in Kenya,” KPA corporation
secretary John Kinyanjui said.
