Kenya’s tourism income rose by 31 p.c to Ksh352.5 billion final yr, buoyed by a surge in African guests, based on the most recent information from the federal government.
Statistics reveal that among the many high ten nations in every area, Africa took the lead with 679,012 guests, adopted by Europe with 477,526, the Americas (319,220), Asia (182,027), Oceania (26,265), and the Center East with 14,173 guests, out of a complete of 1.9 million vacationers who visited the nation final yr.
Uganda topped the record of nations contributing vacationers to Kenya, with 201,623 guests, adopted by Tanzania at 157,818.
Regardless of this, the USA maintained its place as Kenya’s main tourism market, with customer numbers reaching 265,310 in the course of the overview interval.
The inflow of arrivals drove income to its highest ranges for the reason that onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, with numbers rising by 32 p.c to 1.95 million in 2023, based on the federal government’s Tourism Analysis Institute.
Of the entire vacationer arrivals, 1,351,438 (69.3 p.c) and 154,203 (7.9 p.c) entered Kenya via Jomo Kenyatta Worldwide Airport in Nairobi and Moi Worldwide Airport in Mombasa, respectively.
Different vital entry factors contributing to the numbers have been Busia with 147,125 (7.54 p.c), Namanga at 109,050 (5.6 p.c), and Malaba with 47,132 (2.4 p.c).
Kenya has lengthy been a key vacationer vacation spot in East Africa, drawing guests from across the globe to its wildlife reserves and beautiful Indian Ocean coastlines.
Nevertheless, regardless of the elevated variety of guests in 2023 in comparison with 2022, the common spending per individual in US {dollars} declined, attributed partially to the weaker shilling towards main currencies within the overview interval.
Notably, China emerged as essentially the most improved supply market, recording a outstanding 161 p.c enhance, adopted by Italy with 121 p.c, South Korea with 99 p.c, and Australia with 89 p.c.
The first functions of journey have been vacation journeys, accounting for 45 p.c, visiting household and family (VFR) at 24 p.c, and Conferences, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) additionally at 24 p.c.