Transport

Tourism lobby groups in push to halt new ferry charges

ferry upgrade

Mv Likoni ferry. A local firm Wednesday celebrated completing the assembly of a ferry in Mombasa, putting Kenya on the map of emerging ship-building countries in the region. PHOTO | FILE

Tourism industry players are piling pressure on the Kenya Ferry Services (KFS) to put on hold its proposal to raise its Likoni channel toll charges by up to 62 per cent.

The Kenya Association of Tour Operators (Kato), Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC) and Kenya Coast Tourism Association (KCTA) have instead recommended a tariff raise of below seven per cent.

Last month, KFS proposed to charge Sh3,000 for a truck carrying over 10 tonnes of cargo, up from Sh2,000 while a truck of between 16 and 17 metres is to pay Sh1,850, up from Sh1,250 as fee for crossing the Likoni channel.

Trucks on tow with a length of over 17 metres will be charged Sh3,650, up from Sh2,420 while trucks on tow and between 17 and 18 metres will pay Sh2,000 up from Sh1,320.

Tour vans will be charged Sh350 per trip up from Sh220, mini-buses Sh650 from Sh450 while buses will pay Sh1,300 compared to the current tariff of Sh880 per trip.

Tankers which are loaded with fuel or empty will be required to pay Sh2,850, up from Sh1,900.

Yesterday, Kato Coast branch chairperson Monika Solanki said tourism players were surprised by KFS’ proposal to raise tour van charges by 59 per cent and that of tour buses by 62 per cent.

“The hefty charges will deal a further blow to tourism which is still grappling with low international tourist arrivals,” she said.

“We recommend the vehicle charges be raised by below seven per cent and that they be implemented from April next year.”

At the same time, the tourism lobby groups asked the KFS management to address frequent delays at the Likoni crossing caused by ferry breakdowns.

They also want a single use special fast track pass for tour vans and buses to avoid delaying tourists either crossing over to the South Coast or Mombasa Island.