Kenya is relying on its connectivity, improved infrastructure, and
regional integration to position the tourism business in the East
African region.
Speaking at the sidelines of
the just concluded Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo (POATE) in Uganda,
Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife Rebecca Miano noted that the
expanded air routes and road infrastructure development have given Kenya
a major boost in both tourism and trade businesses.
“By
enhancing connectivity between Kenya and our East African neighbours
through expanded air routes, improved infrastructure, and simplified
visa process, we are not only boosting visitor numbers but also
enriching the travel experience,” Miano said.
She added that the government is
continuously investing in air connectivity and infrastructure that are
already paying off, with increased arrivals and growing interest in
investment and trade opportunities.
Africa
continues to be Kenya’s largest source market, contributing 975,883
arrivals in 2024, which accounts for 40.8 per cent of all international
visitors.
The East African Community (EAC)
remains vital, with Uganda leading as the top African source market with
31.7 per cent per cent of African arrivals, followed by Tanzania (28.5
per cent), Somalia (11.4 per cent), and Rwanda (9.2 per cent).
“Our
next steps involve further developing airports, roads, and railways to
reduce travel time and open remote areas to tourists. We are also keen
on high-speed internet as a primary pillar for marketing destinations
and serving digital-savvy travellers.”
Equally
critical, Miano added, is the fostering of dynamic partnerships between
the public and private sectors to collectively address infrastructure
gaps and optimize services such as immigration to ensure a competitive
edge in global tourism.
Kenya is seeking to
increase the Ugandan visitor numbers by 27 per cent to record about
300,000 arrivals by the end of the year, with POATE providing countries a
platform to push for policies that simplify travel, support
intra-African tourism, and elevate the global appeal for the East
African experience.
Business travel,
conferences and visits to friends and relatives account for 77.3 per
cent of EAC arrivals, with CS Miano pointing to the growing potential to
diversify toward more leisure-focused experiences.
Kenya
Airways Country Manager representing Uganda, Felix Mwangangi, disclosed
that planned joint campaigns between KTB and travel trade would further
boost travel interest for Ugandan travelers to Kenya.
He
disclosed that the national carrier is looking to grow visitor volumes
from the market by 10 per cent in the next couple of months with
increased promotion, ahead of the annual Magical Kenya Travel Expo
(MKTE) that is set to be held in Nairobi in October.
Kilifi
County Chief Officer in charge of Tourism, Adrian Baya, said the Kenyan
coast remains a key favourite spot for Ugandans because of the beach
and golf experience, with Kilifi's Vipingo Ridge Golf Course - the only
PGA golf course in Africa - being a major golf showcase.
He disclosed that weddings and honeymoons have become experiences pulling Ugandan travellers to the Kenyan coast.
"Our
strategy now is to link our local tour operators with those of Uganda
to widen marketing opportunities existing in both countries for
complementarity," Baya said.
Kenya
was among the more than 260 exhibitors at POATE held at Speke Resort in
Munyonyo, which attracted over 70 international buyers, over 5,000
trade visitors and leading industry professionals from across the region
and beyond.
