Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala has mourned the demise of veteran Coast hotelier Kuldip Sondhi.
In his condolence message, Balala described the late Sondhi as a passionate hotelier and very outspoken about sustainable growth of beach tourism in the Coast region.
"Mzee Kuldip was my mentor in the tourism industry. It is a gift to have had a mentor, a friend and a father figure like Mzee Kuldip." said Balala.
On his part Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho described him as charming, always energetic and full of life.
"His passion for literature and poetry was unmatched, testimony to the numerous accolades, awards and adulation he received world over." said Joho.
Adding "He also served with zeal and dedication as a councillor in the defunct Mombasa Municipal Council and stood out as revered pillar of tourism development in Mombasa and the region as whole."
Businessman Suleiman Shahbal said Kuldip's death is a big blow the tourism industry.
Shahbal noted "The Tourism Industry has suffered a major blow following the death of Kuldip Raj Sondhi, a guru in the sector. Mzee Kuldip immensely contributed to the growth of the tourism industry in the Coast region."
Kuldip passed away on Monday morning. According to the family, he died at his Reef hotel facing the gardens he so loved with the Indian ocean breezes over his body.
