This archive report was first published on 18 July 2019.
According to the latest data from the tourism sector, an estimated 2 million tourists visited Kenya in the last financial year, with the number expected to rise further this year.
As of now, over 900,000 tourists have already visited the country ahead of the high season, with projections indicating that this number could reach 2.1 million by the end of the year.
The rise in the numbers has been attributed to improved marketing, the emergence of new markets, and the development of new tourism destinations.
Stakeholders met in Lake Naivasha to formulate a Tourism Satellite Account, which will be used to measure the impact of the tourism sector on the country's economy.
Speaking at the meeting, Tourism Research Institute acting CEO David Gitonga noted that the country earned Ksh 157 billion from the over 2 million international visitors last year.
“Already over 900,000 international tourists have visited the Country and our projections are that this will rise to over 2.1m as the high peak season is ahead of us,” he said.
The Tourism Satellite Account is expected to provide investors and stakeholders with the latest data on time, enabling them to prepare and market their businesses effectively.
Dr Geoffrey Manyara from the UN Economic Commission for Africa stated that the project would be carried out in six months, making Kenya the fourth country to have a Tourism Satellite Account.
Already, South Africa, Botswana, and Rwanda have embraced the satellite account, which will help in policy formulation and measure the direct impact on the GDP.
Manyara also noted that the project will market the East Africa region, aiming to increase the number of tourists from the current 5.8 million to 35 million by 2024.
Kenya is currently targeting more visitors from Nigeria and Egypt, which are new tourism markets.
On his part, the MD of Tourism Finance Corporation, Orumoi Jonah, stated that the players in the sector have continued to invest heavily, mainly in the counties.
“The Tourism Satellite Account data will enable TFC to make informed decisions in determining the specific investments to be done in different parts of the country,” he said.
