Tourism cabinet secretary Najib Balala has said that he will support any efforts to curb the crisis at the Likoni ferry channel.
Balala told tourism stakeholders at Voyager hotel in Mombasa last night that the Likoni ferry channel has become a major hindrance to tourism growth at the South Coast with many tourists opting to remain in Mombasa or head to Malindi and Watamu in Kilifi county.
The tourism cabinet secretary said that tourism at the South Coast was experiencing major obstacles following rampant ferry hiccups and vowed to support efforts to arrest the situation.
“It is an open fact that we are experiencing very poor services at the Likoni ferry channel and the government should engage stakeholders in arresting the situation,” added Balala.
Balala also noted that the various incidences experienced at the Likoni channel has not only affected the local businesses but also hampered business treaties between the country and neighboring country Tanzania and urged the government to rethink on how to solve the crisis.
He has also appealed to the central government to work on the construction of Dongo Kundu bypass so as to enable tourist and locals to cross to the South Coast easily.
His sentiments were echoed by Kenya coast tourist association chairperson Mohammed Hersi who is also the manager at the heritage hotels in the country who said that poor services at the Likoni ferry channel have dwindled the tourism sector at the South Coast.
In the recent past tourism stakeholders, private investors and locals leaders have been pushing for the sacking of the Kenya ferry services managing director Musa Hassan Musa for laxity.