Kenya tourism rebounds, surpasses pre-pandemic levels with $2.7b revenue surge

Kenya’s tourism industry witnessed a remarkable resurgence in 2023, marking a significant leap in revenue and visitor numbers, outperforming pre-pandemic figures, as reported by the Ministry of Tourism.

Traditionally renowned for its captivating wildlife parks and picturesque Indian Ocean beaches, Kenya has long been a favored destination in East Africa, drawing travelers from around the globe.

According to a Ministry report disclosed to AFP on Sunday, tourism revenue surged by an impressive 31.5 percent in 2023, reaching a staggering 352.5 billion shillings, equivalent to nearly $2.7 billion.

However, despite the surge in visitor arrivals, per capita spending in US dollars witnessed a decline among the 1.95 million visitors.

The report highlighted, “Despite the increase in the number of visitors in 2023 as compared to 2022, the average per capita expenditure in US dollars decreased significantly,” attributing this trend to the sustained depreciation of the Kenyan shilling against major currencies.

Before the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, Kenya’s tourism sector contributed approximately $2.24 billion in 2019, derived from two million visitors, constituting about 10 percent of the country’s GDP.

Notably, American tourists dominated the arrivals in 2023, totaling 265,310, followed closely by Ugandans (201,623), Tanzanians (157,818), and visitors from the United Kingdom amounting to 156,700.

With optimistic prospects, the Ministry aims to further elevate tourism numbers, setting a target of welcoming 2.4 million tourists in the current year.

In a bid to stimulate tourism growth, Kenya implemented a simplified “visa-free” entry system, with the first batch of foreign tourists arriving in January, a move anticipated to catalyze increased visitor influx in the coming months.