The tourism sector in Kenya received a shot in the arm after a cruise ship carrying 2,500 tourists docked at the port of Mombasa on February 3, 2024, morning.
In a statement, Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua while welcoming the visitors, noted that the vessel dubbed MSC Poesia is on a world tour.
Kenya Ports Authority also said MSC Poesia is one of the biggest cruise vessels to have ever docked at the Port of Mombasa.
“To be able to add value and support Cruise Tourism, KPA has invested in the requisite infrastructure, including the state-of-the-art cruise terminal to cement Kenya’s status as a hub not only in cargo operations but also cruise tourism in Africa,” KPA said in a statement.
CS Mutua further revealed that the cruise ship had 1000 crew members featuring 16 Kenyans who applied for the jobs online.
Cruise ship tourism
Dr Mutua said the growth of cruise ship tourism is seeing many jobs open up, affirming that Kenyans stand a big chance of snapping up such opportunities.
“You do not need to know anyone to get a job. All you need is to be competitive and pass the various interviews by the company”, said the CS.
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According to Mutua, cruise company MSC cruisers has employed 2,500 Kenyans who work in various ships all over the world.
The arrival of the ship brings to four the number of such vessels that have docked in Kenya since November last year.
So far, Kenya has posted 8500 tourist arrivals since the commencement of cruise season in the last three months.
Cruise ships in Kenya
MSC Poesia’s arrival in Mombasa came barely a month after another luxury liner Norwegian Dawn berthed at the Kenyan coast.
Norwegian Dawn docked at the Port of Mombasa on January 14, 2024, carrying 2,300 passengers and 1,100 crew aboard.
KPA Managing Director Captain William Ruto piloted the Norwegian vessel to berth number one.
He reiterated the Authority’s support for cruise tourism in the country through investment in infrastructure to position the Port of Mombasa as a cruise tourism hub.
“This is just the beginning; we expect more vessels to call at the port. As KPA management and board, we have put up infrastructure to support cruise tourism. I want to assure all cruise lines that Port Mombasa is safe,” he said.
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On the other hand, CS Mutua said Cruise ship tourism plays a pivotal role in boosting the economy of coastal nations.
“With its stunning coastline along the Indian Ocean, Kenya has recognized the potential of cruise ship tourism as a catalyst for economic growth,” he said.
The port of Mombasa has the capacity to attract 140,000 passengers per year.
In 2019, the global cruise industry welcomed nearly 30 million passengers, creating jobs for 1.8 million people.
Tourism in Kenya
On January 24, 2024, the country received a major boost after it was elected to chair the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) committee on Tourism and Competitiveness.
The announcement which marked an historic moment for the nation was made at the inaugural committee meeting held at the UNWTO headquarters in Madrid, Spain
CS Mutua noted that the win was a testament to Kenya leadership capabilities and an important win for as it puts the country in a position of decision making in matters that affect tourism across the globe.
“This vote demonstrates the confidence that UNWTO member states have in Kenya’s leadership and ability to steer the organization’s agenda on tourism competitiveness,” said CS Mutua.
