Markets & Finance

Uhuru to open Sh4.8 billion English Point Marina Tuesday

TOURISM_PIX

The English Point Marina apartments in Nyali, Mombasa. PHOTO | FILE |

President Uhuru Kenyatta will launch the Sh4.8 billion KCB-financed English Point Marina in Mombasa Tuesday over five years after it broke ground in 2010.

Mr Kenyatta will be accompanied by Tourism secretary Najib Balala. The luxury development is expected to attract high-end tourists to the coastal town.

“The Jubilee administration has identified tourism as one of the key economic pillars in Kenya’s Vision 2030 and is launching several investment opportunities such as resort cities, hotels, eco-lodges, conference facilities, and marinas as part of our tourism flagship projects,” said a statement from State House spokesperson Manoah Esipisu.

“English Point Marina will put Kenya on the map of the luxury yacht market and the investment is set to open up Kenya to the high-end international ocean traveller.”

East Africa’s first and only marina is built on four acres of land with an ocean view, a 26-room hotel, conferencing facility, a roof-top restaurant, a casino, swimming pool, 96 serviced apartments, a seafront restaurant, gym, spa, a boardwalk with retail outlets, water-sports centre and fully-serviced 88-berth marina.

The Jubilee administration is targeting to attract up to five million tourists and the government has on top begun upgrading infrastructure in key tourist towns such as Mombasa.

On Saturday the president launched construction of the Port Reitz/Moi International access road, a crucial link that will decongest the coastal city, making it more attractive to tourists.

The Sh2.7 billion road will also provide a connection to the newly-constructed second container terminal. The access road is funded by the UK through TradeMark East Africa while the Kenyan government will compensate the affected landowners with up to Sh2.5 billion.