The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mombasa chairman, James Mureu revealed plans are in place to marshal the resources needed in three years, and buy the ship.
Mureu was speaking at Milly Glass Ltd where South Africa envoy to Kenya, Koleka Anita had paid him a courtesy call.
“South Africa has a well-developed cruise business and tourism; we will make sure we are able to own a ship that can bring visitors from the East Coast down to Cape Town. This is not a far-fetched dream,” he said as quoted by a local daily.
Anita said a Memorandum of Understanding to be signed between the port of Mombasa and Durban will strengthen cooperation between the two countries.
“How do we build a social cohesion among two nation based on sports tourism? When we position ourselves on sports on culture, it’s about how we build cohesion among the two nation using those areas,” she said.
The Capital Markets Authority is expected to oversee the collection of the ‘cruise fund’ by tourism players.
However it is not yet clear how much each country will contribute for the project.
Also read: Trump, ongoing drought and August polls forces Central bank to readjust Kenya's economic growth
Cruise tourism has been steadily gaining traction in Kenya since last year, when more than five cruise ships docked at the Port of Mombasa.
Kenya is building its first ever cruise ship terminal at the port of Mombasa at a cost of Sh350 million.
The Kenya Ports Authority has already contributed Sh250 million, while the balance will be funded by Trade Mark East Africa.
Health tourism is expected to also rise as a result of medical tourism.
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