Kenya confirms cruise ship terminal set for completion this year

Ms-Silver-Spirit-Cruise-Ship-at-the-Port-of-Mombasa-on-January-2018-Photo-courtesy-NMG
Ms-Silver-Spirit-Cruise-Ship-at-the-Port-of-Mombasa-on-January-2018-Photo-courtesy-NMG
Avatar of Alain St.Ange
Written by Alain St.Ange

The construction of the Sh350 million world-class cruise ship terminal at the Port of Mombasa is set to be completed in August next year.

Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary (CS) Najib Balala, said the completion of the cruise ship terminal will be in time for the cruise season in November.

The completion of the modern facility is expected to give tourism a huge boost as more cruise ships dock at the port.

Mr. Balala said Kenya is increasingly becoming attractive to cruise ships, revealing MS Nautica operated by Oceania Cruises will arrive at the port on December 24, with about 700 visitors.

โ€œWe have seen good interest by cruise liners attracted to Mombasa port,โ€ the CS said on Friday when he was checking the progress of the cruise ship terminal.

The CS was accompanied by the Kenya Ports Authorityโ€™s Chairman Gen (Rtd) Joseph Kibwana and its Managing Director Daniel Manduku.

The terminal is being constructed with a Sh250 million funding from KPA and Sh100 million from Trade Mark East Africa.

Kenya has been eyeing cruise tourism growth after the segment improved significantly in the last two years with thousands of visitors arriving in the country by sea.

When completed, the terminal will have arrival and departure areas for passengers. The facility will also have a lounge for passengers, an immigration office, reception counters for cruise operators, restaurants and souvenir shops.

Cruise tourism is a lucrative market for Kenya with visitors arriving by sea being high-end holidaymakers.

Kaskazi beach hotel, sales and marketing general manager Daniel Ogechi said the terminal would boost cruise tourism industry in the country.

โ€œThe cruise ship is good for the hospitality business. We will get many international tourists and attract big ships. We should create awareness on cruise ship tourism so that Kenyans can tap into that business,โ€ he said.

The works on cruise terminal, which began in December 2016, involve the modernization of an old building at the portโ€™s berth number 1. The terminal will have arrival and departure areas for passengers coming through the sea at the Port of Mombasa.

The facility will also have a lounge for passengers, an immigration office, reception counters for cruise operators, restaurants and souvenir shops.

Cruise tourists will enjoy facilities just like those offered at the international airports.

About the author

Avatar of Alain St.Ange

Alain St.Ange

Alain St Ange has been working in the tourism business since 2009. He was appointed as the Director of Marketing for Seychelles by President and Minister of Tourism James Michel.

He was appointed as the Director of Marketing for Seychelles by President and Minister of Tourism James Michel. After one year of

After one year of service, he was promoted to the position of CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board.

In 2012 the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands regional Organization was formed and St Ange was appointed as the first president of the organization.

In a 2012 cabinet re-shuffle, St Ange was appointed as Minister of Tourism and Culture which he resigned on 28 December 2016 in order to pursue a candidacy as Secretary General of the World Tourism Organisation.

At the UNWTO General Assembly in Chengdu in China, a person who was being sought after for the โ€œSpeakers Circuitโ€ for tourism and sustainable development was Alain St.Ange.

St.Ange is the former Seychelles Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine who left office in December last year to run for the position of Secretary General of the UNWTO. When his candidature or document of endorsement was withdrawn by his country just a day before the elections in Madrid, Alain St.Ange showed his greatness as a speaker when he addressed the UNWTO gathering with grace, passion, and style.

His moving speech was recorded as the one on the best marking speeches at this UN international body.

African countries often remember his Uganda address for the East Africa Tourism Platform when he was a guest of honor.

As former Tourism Minister, St.Ange was a regular and popular speaker and was often seen addressing forums and conferences on behalf of his country. His ability to speak โ€˜off the cuffโ€™ was always seen as a rare ability. He often said he speaks from the heart.

In Seychelles he is remembered for a marking address at the official opening of the islandโ€™s Carnaval International de Victoria when he reiterated the words of John Lennon famous songโ€ฆ โ€ you may say I am a dreamer, but I am not the only one. One day you will all join us and the world will be better as oneโ€. The world press contingent gathered in Seychelles on the day ran with the words by St.Ange which made headlines everywhere.

St.Ange delivered the keynote address for the โ€œTourism & Business Conference in Canadaโ€

Seychelles is a good example for sustainable tourism. This is therefore not surprising to see Alain St.Ange being sought after as a speaker on the international circuit.

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