How Kenya marked 31.26 per cent growth in tourism revenue

Kenya’s tourism revenue crossed USD 1.55 billion during the year 2018, which is 31.26 per cent more than that of 2017 amounts.

Najib Balala, cabinet secretary in the ministry of tourism and wildlife, said international visitor arrivals also increased by 37 per cent, counting around 2.02 million in 2018.

“Kenya’s tourism performance for the year 2018 has seen a substantial improvement compared to 2017 in both tourism arrivals, domestic tourism performance and earnings,” said Balala who was presenting the tourism sector performance report 2018 to President Uhuru Kenyatta in Mombasa.

He said that domestic tourism bed occupancy increased from 3.64 million in 2017 to 3.97 million in 2018, depicting a 9 percent increase.

Improvement of infrastructure at the tourism resorts in the Coast and across the country to be considered as a key contributor to the growth in the tourism sector. “Political stability and improved security have also helped to the improved results,” added Balala.

Introduction of direct flights to the US and the enhancement of investor confidence would have also helped the growth in the tourism sector last year.

Balala said advanced marketing strategies such as digital marketing and global campaigns and hosting of international conferences including the first ever global conference on Sustainable Blue Economy and the Africa Hotels Investment Forum also contributed to the growth.

USA became the largest source market for the tourism sector in Kenya with 225,157 travelers which represent 11.12 percent of the total arrivals.