Kenya’s tourism industry is expected to experience a significant surge in 2025, with projected earnings increasing by 24% to $4.33 billion, or 560 billion shillings.
This growth is attributed to the government’s strategic interventions, including aggressive marketing campaigns, enhanced tourism product diversification, and adoption of digital platforms.
According to Tourism and Wildlife Secretary Rebecca Miano, Kenya is set to receive around 3 million tourists in 2025, building on the record 2.4 million arrivals in 2024. The US remains the largest source of tourists, accounting for 12.8% of all arrivals, followed by Tanzania and Uganda.
The tourism sector’s growth is a significant contributor to Kenya’s economy, with tourism being one of the country’s largest sources of foreign revenues, alongside agricultural exports and remittances.
The government’s efforts to promote tourism have been paying off, with the sector experiencing a 20% growth in revenue to 452.2 billion shillings in 2024.
The growth is expected to continue, driven by concerted strategic interventions, including the introduction of new scheduled flights, enhanced tourism product diversification, and adoption of digital platforms.
Furthermore, plans are underway to build 31 new hotels in Kenya, with a total of 4,268 rooms, demonstrating the country’s commitment to developing its tourism infrastructure.
Kenya’s economy is projected to benefit from the tourism sector’s growth, with the World Bank predicting a 5% growth in 2024 and 5.1% in 2025-2026. As the tourism sector continues to boom, Kenya is poised to solidify its position as one of Africa’s premier tourist destinations.
