Scuba diving off the coast of Mombasa in Kenya

#MKTE2019: Get to know Mombasa

The Magical Kenya Travel Expo (MKTE) is a B2B trade show organised by our partner On Show Solutions for whom we handle the MKTE social media and mailers to hosted buyers, exhibitors, hosted media, and trade.

In working on the mailers we shared some interesting information on Kenya with the international buyers ahead of their arrival in Kenya. In this short series we are also sharing this information with you.

Read the earlier blogs in this series here. We cover, basics about Kenya, Amboseli, Samburu, Tsavo, and Laikipia.

This week we are talking about the coastal paradise that is Mombasa. After Maasai Mara, I would argue that Mombasa is one of the better known areas of Kenya.

Mombasa is an important part of the Kenya Tourism Board’s Tourism Agenda. A few of the 32 landmark initiatives in this agenda relate to Mombasa and developing Kenya’s beach offering.

As part of the Kenya Tourism Agenda 2018 – 2022,

  • Kenya will develop Mama Ngina Drive and Jomo Kenyatta Public Beach. This will involve redesigning and re-planning the area into an iconic international-standard seafront
  • Kenya is developing a theatre in Mombasa
  • Kenya is constructing a cruise terminal in Mombasa which will be completed within the 2018 – 2022 period. This is part of its commitment to the cruise ship circuit and improving cruise tourism in Kenya. You can read more about this in the tourism minister’s address at MKTE here.
  • Kenya is building the Mombasa International Convention Centre which will introduce conference capacity in the region.

Basic information about Mombasa

  • Mombasa is an island off the coast of Kenya
  • It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country
  • It has a rich history
  • It is connected to the mainland by bridges and ferries

Reasons visitors will love Mombasa

  • It’s on the coast!
  • There are beautiful beaches
  • The old town of Mombasa features Arabic architecture – great for visitors who love history and architecture
  • Fort Jesus is a 16th century fort. It was the centre of a historic struggle for control of the Kenyan coast between the Portuguese army and the Shirazi Arabs. It has a rich history
  • Modern Mombasa is diverse and full of life, ideal for visitors who want to experience local culture
  • The Mombasa Marine Park is a protected area
  • Visitors will love water activities in the Mombasa Marine Park such as diving, snorkelling, boat rides, and more
  • Mombasa and Kenya’s coast offer great honeymoon opportunities

Are you a frequent traveller to Kenya? What do you think we should have included on this list? Tweet us and let us know.

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