Destination Resources and the Growth of Cruise Tourism in Mombasa County, Kenya

Kenya is focused on being a piece of the voyage transport circuit. Towards this end, a first voyage terminal whose development is in progress in Mombasa will be finished inside the 2018 – 2022 period. The overall study goal was to determine the relationship between destination resources and the growth of cruise tourism in Mombasa County, Kenya. Cross sectional survey research design will be used in this study. The location of the study was Mombasa County where cruise tourism has developed roots in Kenya. The study was anchored on Dwyer & Kim model on destination competitiveness and Freeman stakeholder theory. Population of the study consisted of 340 respondents drawn from managers of tourism enterprises and senior managers at Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), Kenya Tourism Board (KTB), Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, as well as coast tourism and hospitality associations. The gathered information was analysed by use of descriptive statistics; mean, mode, median, standard deviation, tables, figures, rates and frequencies. The SPSS 28 was used to analyze the data. Plausible results of the investigation were that port's inalienable attributes, foundations, and travellers assets are just a portion of the variables deciding journey the travel industry advancement hence significant that the administrative structure that bolsters the improvement of this industry and that neighbourhood open and private organizations cultivate compelling associations with voyage lines and mastermind programs guaranteeing a satisfactory progression of journey vacationers every year. The quantitative findings revealed a significant positive relationship between destination resources and the growth of cruise tourism, supported by a high R Square value of 0.794 and a significant F value of 1099.616 (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the study revealed significant relationships between destination resources and the growth of cruise tourism in Mombasa County. To enhance cruise tourism, stakeholders should focus on optimizing destination resources. Recommendations include continuous infrastructure development, targeted marketing campaigns, and community engagement. The study contributes valuable insights for policymakers, industry players, and researchers to foster sustainable growth in Mombasa's cruise tourism sector. Submitted 19th Jul 2024 Reviewed 29th Sep, 2024 Accepted 5th Oct 2024 Published 20th Oct 2024