KENYA’S tourism sector
recorded growth in 2017,
despite a prolonged
electioneering process and
negative travel advisories from
some countries, says Kenya’s
National Bureau of Statistics’
Economic Survey 2018, released
on April 25.
While the period of unrest saw
a dip in arrivals, overall arrivals
for the year increased in 2017,
compared with 2016.
Overall, international visitor
numbers rose by 8,1% from 2016
to 2017. This includes significant
increases in leisure and business
arrivals. As a result, earnings
rose by a remarkable 20,3% to
US$1,19bn (R14,9bn) in 2017.
Wausi Walya, PR and corporate
communications manager of the
Kenya Tourism Board, says it
also noted an increase in minor
categories, such as medical travel,
and VFR tourists.
Germany, the UK and the US
provided the most international
visitors, while visitors from
Australia and New Zealand grew
by about 51%. South Africans
have also been returning. Lance
Zackey, sales and marketing at
Rove Africa, says while Kenya as
a destination for South African
travellers showed slow growth
between 2014 and 2017, the
uptake in 2018 has been quite
remarkable.
“Comparing last year and this
year, we have seen around a 40%
growth in terms of bookings and
enquiries,” Lance says. He puts
this down to the general stabilising
of Kenya as a whole.
