Kenya is setting its sights on expanding cruise tourism by streamlining entry procedures for visitors arriving at the Port of Mombasa, President William Ruto announced on Sunday.

The government plans to revise visa and Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) requirements, allowing cruise passengers to explore the city without bureaucratic hurdles.

Addressing the press at the port as the MS Norwegian Dawn— the largest cruise liner ever to dock in Mombasa— arrived with over 3,100 people on board, Ruto emphasised that the new multiple-entry eTA would eliminate unnecessary paperwork for tourists disembarking from their ships.

“We will be changing our visa and eTA to make entry into the country easier and seamless so that there is no paperwork or unnecessary delays for visitors,” he said.

The revised system is expected to align with recent adjustments at Kenya’s major airports, creating a uniform entry process for all travellers.

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The Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife reports that cruise tourism saw an impressive 163.5 per cent growth last year, with 6,561 visitors arriving by sea.

The government hopes to accelerate this growth by modernising port facilities and making it easier for international cruise liners to dock in Mombasa.

Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano noted that Kenya is set to receive eight cruise ships this season, further boosting the sector.

Kenya’s overall tourism numbers have also been on the rise. International arrivals increased by 15 per cent to 2.4 million in 2024, up from 2.09 million the previous year, while revenue from inbound tourism surged by 19.8 per cent to Sh452.20 billion (about 3.49 billion U.S. dollars) from 2.92 billion dollars in 2023.

Reflecting on the potential of the cruise sector, Ruto said, “Cruise ships were at an all-time high a few years ago, and then we experienced a slowdown. But last year, we had (about) 6,500 visitors, while this year, we expect the number to rise as we expect another eight cruise ships to dock.”

As the government works to position Mombasa as a leading cruise destination, Ruto urged private investors to expand hospitality facilities to accommodate the increasing influx of tourists.