Nation Correspondents
26 September 2005
Nairobi — A ship carrying 900 tourists with a 100-strong crew docked into Mombasa port yesterday as the cruise tourism season started.
MV Topaz, also known as the Peace Boat, will be in Mombasa for two days while its passengers tour various parts of the country.
According to Abercrombie & Kent managing director Auni Kanji, who's firm is handling the ship, Topaz is the first cruise ship to visit Kenya this season "an indication that the cruise industry has started to pick up."
The ship's arrival is viewed as a major boost to tourism at the coast as, Mr Kanji said, the ship had arrived in the country earlier than expected in November - the start of the cruise season.
The tourists had booked one-to-two-day safaris to Tsavo, Taita Salt Lick and Maasai Mara, Mr Kanji said, adding, others would visit Bombolulu Cultural and Wema centres for street children during their stay before sailing to Cairo, Egypt.
Curio dealers expected a boom as the visitors prepared to leave for excursions in a convoy of 140 vehicles.
Mr Hidayoki Taga, the ship's tour coordinator said he was happy more tourists were now visiting Kenya "to enjoy the scenery and wildlife whenever the Peace Boat docks in Mombasa".
A tourism officer will be posted to Central Kenya to boast the industry in the region, minister Morris Dzoro has said.
He said the officer would also be expected to help local people rehabilitate various tourism sites in the area.
Speaking at a ceremony to mark the Tourism Week at Green Hills Hotel in Nyeri Town on Saturday night, Mr Dzoro said the officer, to be based in the town, would report in two weeks.
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