Kenya’ tourism sector recorded more than double earnings since January, latest report indicates. According to Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala, the sector registered Sh167.10 billion earnings compared to Sh83.16 billion in the same period last year.
July posted the highest earnings at Sh26.99 billion, while August recorded Sh23.86 billion. This increase has been attributed to the increase in international tourists.
The number of tourists increased to 924,812 compared to 483,246 in the same period last year. The growth is consistent with the global recovery in post-pandemic international travels, boosted by countries, including Kenya, admitting double-jabbed travelers.
“We have seen 2022 being a very good year, and our best month is July to August. Despite the elections, the numbers increased because we conducted a peaceful election,” said Mr. Balala. The CS added that were it not for the restrictions on chartered flights to the coastal region, the number could be even higher.
“Airlines such as KLM, Qatar, Turkish want to come and bring visitors to the coast but were denied that permission by Ministry of Transport and that kills the tourism industry,” he said.
“This has affected the main tourism market, such as Italy, which depends on charter flights. These are the issues that need to be discussed and addressed seriously. Otherwise, we will not be able to grow the number of tourists to what we had in 2019.”
The year 2019 was the best for the tourism sector in Kenyan history. The country registered over 2.04 million international arrivals and Sh296.2 billion in earnings. “Our projection is by the end of 2022 earnings will be Sh265.39 billion from Sh146.51 billion in the full year 2021. We expect 1.46 million people will arrive by December. We are catching to our 2019 figures,” the outgoing tourism CS added.
