At a time when Kenya’s tourism industry is rebounding strongly, cruise travel is emerging as a powerful new engine of growth, bringing with it visitors, revenue, and fresh opportunities for travel agents across the region.
In 2024, Kenya recorded 6,561 cruise passenger arrivals, a dramatic 163 percent increase over the previous year. Each cruise vessel that docks at the Port of Mombasa can unload 600 to 1,000 travelers at a time, turning a single call into an instant influx of spending on hotels, transport, food, and local excursions. Industry projections suggest that cruise tourism could contribute hundreds of millions of shillings annually to the coastal economy alone if current growth continues.
Against that backdrop, the 2025 Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA) AGM & Convention in Mombasa signaled a strategic shift, placing cruise travel firmly on the agenda of Kenya’s mainstream travel industry. Held at the PrideInn Paradise Beach Resort under the banner “Going Further, together,” the three-day conference brought together more than 350 travel professionals, policymakers, and aviation and hospitality stakeholders to chart a coordinated path forward for post-pandemic tourism growth.
The convention opened with a commanding Masterclass on Selling Cruise Travel, a session designed to equip travel agents with the tools needed to tap into this fast-growing segment. Delegates were immersed in the mechanics of cruise product sales, from segment profiling and itinerary crafting to unpacking pricing structures and product packaging, to turn cruise offerings into a reliable revenue stream.
Cruise passengers are not just transit visitors. Data from global travel analysts show that cruising travellers spend more on average than typical shore-based tourists, often extending their stays before or after ship calls to enjoy safari experiences, beach resorts, and cultural excursions. That spillover has a multiplying effect on local value chains, from transport and hospitality to tour operations and retail.
The significance of cruise travel was underscored by the participation of members such as Norwegian Cruise Line and Whitestar Cruise, both of which are part of KATA’s expanding network. Their presence in Kenya’s travel ecosystem confirms that major global cruise brands view Kenya as a serious emerging market and that travel agents can play a central role as facilitators of this growth.
Through such partnerships, travel sellers continue to learn how to craft multi-component packages that blend maritime voyages with inland attractions, increasing per‑traveller revenue and extending booking windows. Moving on, agents are urged to treat cruise travel not as an occasional add-on, but as a core line of business capable of driving significant year-round volume.
This evolution comes as Kenya’s broader tourism numbers continue climbing, with international arrivals up by nearly 15 percent and receipts moving toward Ksh 450 billion in recent reporting periods. Cruise tourism — once a minor footnote in national travel statistics- is becoming a strategic pillar, especially for the coastal economy.
For travel agents and operators, the message is clear: cruise travel is no longer on the periphery. With robust demand, rising arrivals, and growing global confidence in Kenya’s maritime assets, the time to act is now. The industry that equips itself with skills, product knowledge, and cross-sector partnerships stands to capture a share of the lucrative cruise traveller market as Kenya positions itself as a leading cruise destination in Africa.
