Why Kenya misses out on the cruise dollars

MS Europa Cruise Ship that docked at the Port of Mombasa with more than 700 tourists onboard in this photo taken on February 17, 2025.

Photo credit: Kevin Odit | Nation Media Group

Kenya has been pushing to be removed from the World Health Organization’s (WHO) yellow fever endemic zone red list, seeking to boost tourism revenues from cruise ships on the Indian Ocean circuit.

Tanzania has been reaping from the cruise business, having been spared the red list, and Kenyan players in the tourism sector say the most cruise visitors can stay on its shores is 48 hours.