The US$3m cruise terminal in Mombasa recently received its first cruise ship in four years when MV World Odyssey called at the Kilindini port.
The cruise liner arrived with 800 tourists for a five-day tour in Kenya, bringing a ray of hope to the tourism sector as the year comes to an end.
Although no other vessel is expected, sector players are hoping for a better 2023 as more liners resume travel, according to The East African.
Kenya’s Tourism Cabinet Secretary, Penninah Malonza, said: “The last time we received a cruise ship was in 2018. So, this is a positive sign for tourism because the visitors will be here for five days.”
Malonza said the Kenyan government had developed “elaborate strategies” to market the country and increase its visibility in the key tourism source markets.