Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala highlighted Kenya's 2018 tourism achievements during the International Tourism Bourse (ITB) in Berlin, Germany. The country recorded 2,025,206 international tourists, a 37.33% increase from 1,474,671 in 2017. Revenue reached Sh157,386,151,000, reflecting a 31.2% annual growth. Domestic bed nights rose 9.03% to 3,974,243 in 2018.
Balala cited UNWTO forecasts predicting 3-5% global tourist growth in 2019, with Africa expected to see similar rates after a 7% increase in 2018. He emphasized government priorities including infrastructure, investment, marketing, and product diversification. New tourism offerings now include battlefield tourism, extreme sports, and culinary experiences.
The CS noted President Uhuru Kenyatta's administration introduced visa fee waivers for children under 16 to boost arrivals. Kenya's tourism strategy aims to expand beyond traditional beach and wildlife attractions, aligning with the UNWTO's 4.2% average annual growth rate between 2008 and 2018.
