Kenyan President William Ruto has announced that the government will introduce a multiple-entry electronic travel authorization (eTA) for cruise ship tourists, aiming to streamline entry processes and enhance the country’s appeal as a premier tourism destination.
Speaking at the cruise ship terminal at the Port of Mombasa, President Ruto reiterated the government’s commitment to positioning Kenya as a top global travel destination. He emphasized the importance of seamless entry procedures for tourists, particularly those arriving via cruise ships, and encouraged the private sector to capitalize on the growing tourism industry.
President Ruto addressed journalists at the Mombasa Cruise Terminal, where he welcomed the Norwegian Dawn, a luxury cruise ship that docked on Sunday morning with 2,200 passengers and over 1,000 crew members. He stressed that Kenya’s new electronic travel authorization system would eliminate delays and make the entry process more efficient.
“We will be changing our visa and our ETA so that we can make it easier and seamless. Let me repeat, make it easier and seamless for those of you who are visiting so that there is no paperwork,” said President Ruto.
“There are no issues, and we have agreed with the management of the ports that it will be made easy and simple so that visitors can visit our country and our cities,” he added.
Kenya has set an ambitious target of welcoming five million tourists annually by 2027, a significant increase from the 2.4 million recorded in 2024. The President highlighted that tourism revenue had surged to approximately 450 billion Kenyan Shillings in 2024, reflecting the sector’s strong recovery and potential.
He revealed that eight more cruise ships are expected to dock at Mombasa’s cruise terminal before the end of the season, further strengthening Kenya’s position as a key player in the global cruise tourism market.
President Ruto urged private investors to take advantage of the growing influx of domestic and international tourists by expanding hospitality infrastructure.
“There are opportunities as we increase the number of tourists coming to Kenya. There are also opportunities in providing hospitality facilities, from beaches and beach hotels to other tourist facilities. We must ensure results, and I urge the private sector to expand their footprint. As we grow tourist numbers, we must also grow the facilities,” he stated.
