The Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife has reported a 91 per cent growth from the previous year 2021.
Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary (CS) Najib Balala stated that the sector has improved inbound tourism earnings with 101 per cent, year on year up to January-August 2022, with Sh167 billion compared to the same period last year, which recorded Sh83 billion.
“2019 had recorded the best year, with Sh298 billion, with Sh88 billion (2020), Sh126 billion (2021) and a projection of Sh265 billion for the year 2022,” he said.
The CS explained that the Business Meetings Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions (MICE), Education, Religion, Medical tourism and Sports, were the types of businesses that contributed to the growth, with Tourism being the major contributor.
“Meetings are happening daily at the hotels from United Nations bodies and Government sectors with 250,000 people coming from the MICE,” he said.
Speaking at the National Museums of Kenya Friday, during the release of the tourism sector report 2021/2022 financial year, Balala stated that Sports is becoming another key interesting thing in Kenya as the sector has hosted Kenya opens and safari rally.
The CS stated that 2019 was the best year for the inbound tourism sector as 2 million visitors were recorded with over half a million coming from across the border.
“Our total visitor arrival is at 924,000 and our focus is that 1.4 million people will have arrived by December,” said Balala, pointing out that the main challenge facing tourists outside the country is the high cost of fuel.
The CS stated that the most improved source markets in the consecutive years were the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Germany, India, Canada, France and the United States of America.
“On Improved markets year to year, Spain has shown a very interesting trend in terms of numbers in Kenya,” stated Balala.
The CS said that they will be launching marketing videos in different languages targeting seven key markets, namely English, Spanish, Arabic, Italian, German, French and Chinese, with the aim of growing tourism numbers from these key markets.
By Rita Muthoni and Trevor Okello
