Dancers welcome cruise ship MS Nautica when it docked at the Port of Mombasa on November 13, 2015. [Photo/ nation.co.ke]
The tourism sector in the Coast region is set to receive a major boost after American cruise Ship Company Princess Cruises agreed to use the port of Mombasa as the home port for one of its vessel.Speaking to journalists on Monday, communications officer at the Kenya Ports Authority Hajj Masemo, said that the new development will boost the sector. The vessel is expected to stay at the port from where it will be traveling to different places including Mauritius, Seychelles, and Madagascar among others. He further said that a deal was struck between the Kenyan team and American side during the 2017 cruise ship convention in Miami. “They are willing also to bring in a vessel which will be staying in Mombasa as the home port, then it can go to the Indian Ocean islands like Mauritius, Madagascar, Seychelles then it can finally come back to Mombasa,” said Masemo, as quoted by Baraka FM. The terminal of the cruise ship, which is currently under construction, will be located in the Berth 1 and 2 of the port upon completion. Different stakeholders in the tourism sector have welcomed the new move by the American firm.