The tourism industry is set for good tidings after a cruise ship arrived in Mombasa with more than 1,000 tourists and crew.
MS Seven Seas Voyager,
operated by Regent Seven Seas Cruises, docked at the Mombasa Port on
Saturday morning from Zanzibar with 688 passengers and 451 crew.
On December 9 last year, the luxury cruise ship arrived in Mombasa with 1,099 tourists and crew.
A second cruise ship is expected this month and another in February.
Last year, the country attracted more than 3,000 cruise tourists compared to 900 tourists in 2014.
Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala and Tourism Principal Secretary Fatuma Hirsi were at the port to welcome the tourists.
The CS said the arrival of the cruise ship a day after ushering in the New Year holiday was a major boost to the tourism sector.
Mr Balala expressed optimism the sector would improve this year compared to last year due to the calm enjoyed in the country.
He
said more tourists are expected to visit Kenya following the move by
the US, UK and French governments to lift travel advisories.
However, he said, he expects the industry to fully recover in 2018.
He
said Kenya Tourism Board has been allocated Sh2 billion for marketing
in both traditional and emerging markets for the country to attract many
international tourists.
Mr Balala said Kenya will in March participate in the Miami Convention in the US to attract more cruise ships to Mombasa.
The
tourists who arrived in Mombasa on Saturday are from the United States,
United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland,
Canada, France, Ireland, Spain, Brazil and New Zealand.
Others came from Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, Norway, Denmark, Ukraine, Mexico, Russia and Portugal.
Upon arrival, some tourists travelled to Shimba Hills Game Reserve and Mwalughanje Elephant Sanctuary for game drives.
Others visited Bombolulu Workshop Cultural Centre, Haller Park while some enjoyed a tour of Mombasa town.
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