The Luxury Norwegian Dawn, the longest cruise liner for this season, made its maiden call at Mombasa’s port with 2212 guests from at least 54 nationalities and 1113 crew members on board.
Speaking during the cruise’s stopover at the Mombasa port, Kenya Port Authority (KPA) Managing Director (MD) Capt. William Ruto said cruise tourism season has commenced on a high note, and with such vessels calling on the port, the industry had prospects of better returns.
The MD noted that the Kenya Ports Authority has put substantial investment into the infrastructure, which has allowed the port to continue delivering efficient and reliable services, which in turn has boosted the attractiveness of such vessels to the port.
“The kind of infrastructure we have in place as the Kenya Ports Authority is tailored towards supporting cruise tourism. We are up to the task in terms of aspects like security, and we assure both guests and staff that the port of Mombasa is safe,” said Ruto. In his first call of the year, he urged visitors to explore Mombasa’s white sandy beaches and historical sites to boost the local tourism industry.
On his part, Mombasa County Executive Committee Member (CECM) in charge of tourism and trade, Mohamed Osman, lauded the efforts by the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) and KPA for the symbiotic relationship that has made such strides in the tourism sector achievable.
He added that stakeholder synergy is the bedrock of success, and as the County Government of Mombasa, they are fully committed to working towards realising the blueprint set out in the tourism industry, which is the backbone of the port city.
“As Mombasa County, our role is to build a conducive environment for tourism growth, working with all relevant stakeholders to make Mombasa the premier destination in the region, “said Osman. Capt. Asen Gyurov of the Norwegian Dawn thanked the Kenya Ports Authority management and lauded the seamless reception the liner received at the port on its maiden call.
Gyurov expressed hope that the port will transform into a turnaround port for vessels in the future due to its exceptional performance.
By Andrew Hinga
