Tourism stakeholders in Mombasa have credited the meteoric rise in domestic and international visitor numbers to the launch of the Mombasa Commuter Railway line and the implementation of the Open Sky Policy.
These initiatives have significantly boosted the coastal tourism sector.
Hotel Sapphire General Manager (GM) John Yegon said hotels located within the city centre are typically less busy during the Christmas period, as most guests prefer beachside resorts.
However, this trend has shifted following the completion of the Sh6 billion Mombasa Island–Miritini Metre Gauge Railway (MGR) line and the rehabilitation of the Mombasa MGR station, which is conveniently situated just a short distance from hotels in the Central Business District (CBD).
As a result of the rising number of holiday travellers, the Kenya Railways Corporation has introduced an additional Madaraka Express passenger service that will operate daily from 8th December 2025 to 5th January 2026 between Nairobi and Mombasa.
“It brings a lot of people to Mombasa. When you come to Mombasa, there is a lot of culture, experiences, and street food; there is a lot to be experienced within the city of Mombasa. We are selling cultural tourism and the history of Mombasa,” stated Yegon.
He praised the new railway line for improving security within the CBD and commended the County Government for ensuring cleanliness, which has made city tours more enjoyable for visitors.
The hotel on Wednesday evening kicked off the Christmas season in spectacular style, treating guests to an electrifying live performance of Genge music by the legendary Juacali and an array of sumptuous, mouth-watering dishes.
Guests also took part in the enchanting lighting of the grand Christmas tree and joined in the festive, aroma-filled cake-mixing ceremony.
“It’s all about experiences; it’s all about the service and having a very good product. As a team in Sapphire, we are obsessed with service, experience and variety. If you come to our breakfast, the variety is more than any other hotel within the city of Mombasa,” said the GM.
“The product itself is one of the best products within the city of Mombasa. We have expanded, we listen to our guests, and once we listen, we work on the feedback,” he added, noting that the hotel has a wide range of entertainment, a kids’ club and well-trained staff to ensure guests have the best experience.
Hotel Sapphire Director Ms Inaara Jiwan said the hotel underwent refurbishment after the Coronavirus pandemic to give it a new lease of life. She also thanked customers for being loyal to the hotel throughout the years.
“The tourism industry as a whole skyrocketed after the pandemic, and I think that also helped us quite a lot. We have also surrounded ourselves with the reputation of having entertainment, which the town is missing out on, and so that has also really helped bring attention to our hotel,” said Ms Jiwan.
Mombasa County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Tourism, Culture and Trade, Mohamed Osman, lauded the hotel management for reviving Mombasa’s nightlife that had been dead for years through the transformation of the hotel.
Osman noted that eight per cent of the 2.39 million tourists who visited the country in 2024 passed through the Moi International Airport in the Coastal City.
“Almost 300,000 tourists came to Mombasa through the efforts of Governor Abdulswamad Nassir. We have seen that the Open Sky Policy is bearing fruit,” said Osman.
“Recently, we ushered in RwandAir, and we’ve seen other flights coming. This year, thanks to our collaboration with the national government, we will surpass our set target of three million tourists,” he added.
He further noted that Mombasa is experiencing a windfall in tourism because of the post-election crisis in a neighbouring country in the region, leading to a remarkable increase in tourists.
“Mombasa in the past was famous as a destination, but now it is known for its experience. Establishments like Sapphire have brought a new experience to the CBD, which is why the number of domestic tourists has increased.
He disclosed that 1.2 million domestic tourists have so far visited the Coastal city, with robust plans underway to increase the number through joint efforts with hotel establishments.
The County Government has established a Tourism Unit within the Inspectorate to ensure tourists have the best experience.
By Sadik Hassan
