Plans are under way for a tourist cruise terminal at Mombasa, with the Kenya Ports Authority budgeting $1 million for its construction.

KPA Principal Communications Officer, Haji Masemo, said construction was expected to begin next month. He added that the terminal, on berth number 1, was expected to be completed in eight months to a year.

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It will have lounges for passengers and VIPs, a restaurant, shops and other amenities.

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Masemo said: “We want to create a conducive environment for our visitors to have good time when they arrive at the port of Mombasa.”

Mombasa has seen an increase in cruise ships in the last year. Between November last year and February this year, the port received eight cruise ships, compared with just one in 2014.

Kenya Association of Tour Operators Coast Chairperson, Monika Solanki, says since November last year the port of Mombasa been attracting cruise tourists from around the world.

She points out that the destination has gained popularity from the US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, Austria and South African tourist markets.

However, Kenya’s cruise tourism has declined from its peak in 2000, following pirate attacks off the Somalia coast. Last year, five cruise ships docked at Mombasa with 2 905 tourists, compared with 43 cruise ships that brought 19 675 holidaymakers during the peak period of 2000.

In recent years, attacks have waned owing to efforts by Kenya and the international community naval forces to combat piracy in Somali territorial waters.