Questions linger on viability of new cruise ship terminal
Kenya’s first cruise ship terminal is set for launch anytime, but some players in the tourism sector say it could become a “white elephant” unless it is marketed aggressively abroad.
The government, through the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, used about Sh350 million to put up the tourist bay at Berth No1 at Mombasa port two years ago.
However, questions have continued to be raised about its economic viability.
Kenya Association of Hotel Keepers and Caterers Coast executive officer Sam Ikwaye says the project’s economic impact may not be felt by hoteliers since most cruise ship visitors opt for game parks and few of them book local hotel rooms.
“These luxury liners contribute a very small fraction of tourists and I don’t see it making good returns,” said Ikwaye.
Last year for example, only two cruise ships docked at the port of Mombasa. From September 2018 to March 2019 season, Kenya only received one cruise ship.
The other vessel christened ‘Ms Albatros’ with 446 passengers and 346 crewmembers came in November 2019. 
Friendly secure port
In the 2017-18 cruise ship tourism season, the port welcomed six cruise ships, the highest number recorded in a single season in almost 10 years.
Data from Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) shows that cruise tourism traffic has been on a decline, from a high of 5,072 passengers on six vessels in 2015 to 2,298 a year later.
The fall was due to a series of travel advisories and terrorism incidents at the Coast.
“As a nation, we might be benefiting in other avenues. but there is usually no impact on beach hotels because these tourists immediately fly off for a day ot two to Tsavo or Amboseli national parks for wildlife safaris,” said Wafula Waswa, Traveller’s Beach Resort Marketing manager.
However, Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF) chairman Mohamed Hersi says the berth cannot be a white elephant as it has made the port more friendly and secure for cruise ship passengers, which will help the country attract more cruise liners.
“With intensive marketing, Kenya will reap huge returns from the facility when more vessels start calling,” he said.
Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) management says the terminal is ready for commissioning, with nine cruise ships expected to call this year. The main cruise ship route to Kenya is Seychelles-Madagascar -Dar es Salaam-Zanzibar-Mombasa.
The first luxury liner this year, MS Marco Polo, docked last month with 630 passengers. Owned by the Global Maritime Group under charter to UK-based Cruise and Maritime Voyages, the ship was enroute from Mozambique via Zanzibar and was headed to the Seychelles, India and Sri-Lanka and the Gulf countries.
Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) managing director Daniel Manduku said the guests underwent a thorough security and health screening on arrival.
“We have deployed experts to conduct tests on arriving guests to keep the country safe from corona virus and other threats,” he said when he received the ship at KPA’s Berth No 1.
KPA is also tracking all vessels that have called at ports in China recently. This comes in the wake of reported cases on cruise ships in Hong Kong and Japan, where tens of passengers have tested positive on board the vessels.
Grant Holmes, Vice President of Global Cruise Ship Solutions Company, said it was the maiden visit by the luxury liner.
“We want our guests to experience what ‘Destination Kenya’ has to offer. We are finding Kenya a very suitable place to visit and we are excited,” said Holmes.
Hailing the Kenyan government for putting up the world-class cruise ship-waiting bay, Holmes said European cruise ships would now be visiting Mombasa as it has established itself amongst standard global destinations.
Aggressive marketing
Hersi says the new terminal will open up the Kenyan Coast as a hub of cruise tourism.
“Its now up to Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) to intensify marketing so that more cruise liners can include Mombasa on the Port Call List,” he says.
The berth has visitors’ arrival and departure lounge, a VIP lounge, duty free shop, escalators, conveyor belts and an integrated security system for luggage and visitors screening.
It can allow simultaneous berthing of two oasis-class cruise ships — the world’s largest.
Kenya Coast Tourism Association (KCTA) executive director Julius Owino says the viability of the terminal will depend on aggressive marketing by KTB.
“When Kenya gets into the cruise ship circuit, I am confident that it will have a positive ripple effect on the economy. Seychelles receives about 100 cruise ships annually and this is a big boost,” said Owino.
Kenya is banking on marketing campaigns in cruise conventions and partnerships with African ports popular with the ships. “The Tourism ministry is working on a cruise ship calendar.
We have already been to Miami to market Mombasa as a cruise ship port,” said Manduku.
