This archive report was first published on 21 July 2019.
According to the latest data, Kenya's tourism sector has experienced a remarkable surge, with international tourists reaching the 2 million mark in the last financial year, generating Sh157 billion for the country.
As of now, the Ministry of Tourism has reported that over 900,000 tourists have visited the country ahead of the high season, indicating a promising start to the year. This growth can be attributed to improved marketing, the emergence of new markets, and the development of new tourism destinations.
Stakeholders met in Lake Naivasha last week to formulate a Tourism Satellite Account (TSA), which will be used to measure the impact of the tourism sector on the economy. The TSA project aims to capture all aspects of tourism activities, providing investors and stakeholders with the latest data to inform their decisions.
Acting Tourism Research Institute CEO David Gitonga emphasized the importance of the TSA, stating that it will enable investors to prepare and market their businesses effectively. He noted that the project is designed to bring out the true value of the sector's contribution to the annual output, using the United Nations World Tourism Organisation's methodological framework.
Dr Geoffrey Manyara, Tourism advisor at the UN Economic Commission for Africa, highlighted the significance of the TSA project, stating that it will make Kenya the fourth country to have a TSA in Africa. He also mentioned that the project will be carried out in six months, with the aim of marketing East Africa to increase the number of tourists from 5.8 million to 35 million by 2024.
Manyara also mentioned that Kenya is currently targeting more visitors from Nigeria and Egypt, new tourism markets. The Tourism Finance Corporation (TFC) Managing Director, Jonah Orumoi, noted that the TSA data will enable TFC to make informed decisions on investments in different parts of the country.
Published on July 21, 2019.
