Ferry operator introduces special passes for tour vans

Motorists waiting to embark the Mv Likoni in Mombasa on March 24, 2013. FILE 

By Sandra Chao

Posted  Wednesday, January 1  2014 at  11:56

In Summary

• The passes will allow vans carrying tourists to avoid queues and quickly board the loading ferry at the Likoni channel.
• Saloon car users will pay Sh36, 100 while those travelling in Land Rovers will pay Sh43,200 for the quarterly passes.
• Tour operators with nine and 14-seater vans will both pay Sh83,000. Operators of 32-seater mini buses will pay Sh158,400 and Sh316,800 for a 60- seater bus. 

Tourists visiting the South Coast will spend less time to reach their destinations following the introduction of priority passes for tour operators by the Kenya Ferry Services (KFS).

The passes will allow vans carrying tourists to avoid queues and quickly board the loading ferry at the Likoni channel.

KFS managing director Musa Hassan Musa said the move is part of the on-going reforms to improve services.

“We believe it presents a good deal for tour operators as this will enable them serve their clients better and to avoid delays,” he said.

According to the new fees contained in a Kenya Gazette Legal notice Number 71 dated April 19, 2013, tour operators using scooters will pay Sh16, 800 to use the ferry on a priority basis for three months.

Saloon car users will pay Sh36, 100 while those travelling in Land Rovers will pay Sh43,200 for the quarterly passes.

Tour operators with nine and 14-seater vans will both pay Sh83,000. Operators of 32-seater mini buses will pay Sh158,400 and Sh316,800 for a 60- seater bus. 

Mr Musa said some tour firms like Southern Cross Safaris and Tijara Beach Cottages had already taken advantage of the offer.

Mombasa and Coast Tourism Association chairman Mohammed Hersi said the introduction of the priority passes would reduce transfer delays for tourists and enhance the appeal of hotels in the South Coast.

“Sometimes tourists spend close to three hours waiting for a ferry yet they have arrived on a nine- hour flight from Europe. It is worse if they are coming from Nairobi because they are spending more time waiting for the vessel than the 45 minutes on their flight,” Mr Hersi said.

Kenya Association of Tour Operators Coast chairperson Monika Solanki asked KFS to introduce short term priority passes for individuals and tour operators who occasionally use the service.

“Most tour companies cannot afford to dedicate a vehicle to crossing the ferry because the number of tourists being transferred varies yet the priority passes are not transferrable to other vehicles,” Ms Solanki said.

Mombasa Island is linked to the North Coast by bridges at Nyali, Mtwapa, Kilifi and Sabaki.

schao@ke.nationmedia.com