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The United States has maintained its position as the leading source of international tourists to Kenya, according to the latest report.
The report released by Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala on Friday shows that the country received 924,812 international visitors between January and August compared to 483,240 arrivals in the same period in 2021, representing a 91 percent surge.
"Kenya's tourism sector is experiencing a recovery as the COVID-19 pandemic has been contained in most of our key source markets and international travelers are now fully confident to travel," Balala said.
Data from the ministry showed that inbound tourism earnings in the period under review grew to Sh167 compared to Sh83 billion during the same period in 2021.
Tourism alongside horticulture, tea and diaspora remittances are Kenya’s top foreign exchange earners.
Out of the 924,812 international arrivals, 313,466 were on holiday, 274,722 traveled to visit families or friends, 258,889 for business and meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE), and 43,883 on transit, with the rest coming in for other purposes including education, religion, and sports.
Balala indicated that the top sources of the country's foreign visitors were the United States, Uganda, Britain, Tanzania, and India.
Other top sources include Germany, Rwanda, Somalia, Ethiopia, France, South Sudan, Nigeria, South Africa, Canada, Netherlands, Democratic Republic of Congo, China, Italy, Burundi, Sweden, Poland, Spain, Zimbabwe, and Denmark.
Balala also launched multi-lingual destination videos on Kenya's cultures, cuisine, vibrant cities, adventure, and other experiences that highlight the destination's diversity. The videos target potential tourists from China, France, Spain, Italy, Germany and Arabic-speaking countries.
Comments
How many times can you tour a national park to see an elephant? Who is preventing natives to tour their country? Shenzi sana.
I don't think that's just on the ministry. Your are right though that they could promote local tourism. I gotta say your school was deficient. My geography teachers in secondary school arranged trips to Mt. Longonot, Hell's Gate(stopover at Lake Naivasha), Lake Magadi, Mt. Suswa, Lake Bogoria and camping in Nzaui. The school was blessed with dedicated teachers and resources. On 2nd thought, blame it on the schools lack of resources.
They should vet these “tourists” from India. Most are people coming here to wk illegally. Indians with money go to Canada, England or US. Get serious.
Update Canada has the majority of Poor indians they are slowly becoming like hispanics in the USA using up all the welfare and taking up all the menial jobs .The only place you will not find them is cleaning up shit in nursing homes.Otherwise they are the doctors pharmacists, medical technicians taxi drivers, bus drivers, uber drivers,cashiers cleaners etc.Over here they are even farmers doing manual labor competing with seasonal laborers from the carribean who come to work in farms
To avoid further interruptions to the growth of tourism, the ministry should cater more to local tourists and ensure that they’re treated respectfully.
There will be more pandemics, and other incidents that affect our dependence on foreign tourism!
If you grow and encourage native Kenyans to tour their country, then you’ll come out winning!
We should start with offering discounted or free tours to Primary school pupils!
Every pupil in public schools should be able o tour a national park or game reserve during their lifetime!
This can be coordinated by the ministry of tourism, and ministry of education!
I still remember the only tour I went to at class 6 to the snake park in Nairobi, the National Archives, and the Giraffe center!
One day, I’ll take my kids there too!