The Coast tourism industry is mourning the loss of veteran hotelier Kuldip Sondhi.

Sondhi was the proprietor of Reef Hotels, Mombasa and Shimoni.

He was also an accomplished writer and poet who has been featured by BBC. He has written several short stories and plays which have been published in various anthologies.

His short story ‘Bad Blood’ was awarded the best East Africa story in the 1960’s and was published by Penguin.

The turning point in his writing career was in 1963 when the Orient Club of Nairobi requested him to write a play for their entry into the Annual National Drama Competition.

Sondhi also served as a nominated councillor for Mombasa during the defunct Mombasa Municipal Council.

Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF) Chairman Mohammed Hersi described him as a man who was passionate about the growth of the tourism industry.

"While he was in his 80's he still chose to hold my hand and guide me in matters Tourism leadership." said Hersi.

Adding "This is one man who believed in Kenya and fondly talked about it. He made a case for single gauge railway line way back in the 90s and it came to pass but not exactly as he wished though it moved huge numbers for Tourism."