Kenya aims to attract more cruise lines to its shores again in the near future, according to Kenyan industry players. The country recently welcomed the MV Astor in both Lamu and Mombasa. The cruise ship carried 320 tourists and a further 245 crew members.
Mombasa and Coast Tourism Association Chairman, Mohamed Hersi, told Tourism Update he was hoping to see more cruise ships in the near future, as Kenya was once again a safe cruising destination. “Even more so after Kenyan forces went physically into Somali to remove the Al Shabab threat in the stronghold of Kismayu,” he said.
Lamu West District Commissioner, Julius Chepkwony, was quoted in local newspapers as saying there was adequate security in place and encouraged other tourists to make Lamu their tourism destination. “The fact that over 500 tourists are in Lamu is a clear testimony that they believe we have enough security in the area; there is no reason to fear.”
