Kenya’s tourism earnings rose 31.3 percent in 2018, buoyed by growth in tourist arrivals after prolonged electioneering period in 2017.
{Image Courtesy: PSCU}
During the year, earnings from the sector stood at Ksh157.3 billion ($1.5 billion) up from Ksh120 billion a year earlier.
Tourist arrival numbers crossed the two million mark with 2.03 million tourists visiting the country in 2018.
Kenya’s Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala attributed the growth of the sector to an aligned strategy with county governments to revamp tourism products as well as enhanced marketing campaigns in emerging markets.
“The gains of the sector were as a result of coordinated efforts between various arms of government, whom the tourism sector has engaged, as well as the concerted efforts in marketing Kenya as a destination of choice,” Balala said on Monday.
Kenya had an extended presidential election in 2017 which saw tourist numbers decline.
The U.S continued to be a key source market for Kenya with 225,157 registered tourists during the year.
China, which has become a key tourism source market for Kenya, saw a four percent rise to 81,709 tourists.
Tourism is one of the top sources of hard currency for the East African nation alongside tea exports and remittance from Kenyans living abroad.
