Aggressive marketing campaign, political stability, investor confidence and a stable security situation in the country are some of the key factors that have boosted the growth of the tourism sector in 2019.
Revenue received from international arrivals have increased to 163.5 billion in 2019 up from the 157.3 billion recorded in 2018, indicating a 3.9 percentage growth.
This is as a result of the 1.167 increase in visitors coming in from 2, 025, 206 in 2018 to 2, 048, 834 in 2019.
This was attributed to global online campaigns on various online platforms including Google, Aljazeera and CNN Online, joint marketing campaigns with travel trade associations, international trade road shows and global travel trade exhibitions.
Locally, domestic campaigns like “TembeaKenyaNaMimi” and a refreshed brand “EmbraceMoreMagic” were also contributing factors to a vibrant year.
An increase in direct flights to various parts of the world was also a contributing aspect to the high number of visitors jetting into the country. A rise in frequency of flights between Paris and Nairobi, direct flights from Doha to Mombasa and the much-celebrated flights from Nairobi to New York City are indicators of growth in the aviation sector.
Kenya is also a country with automation of systems that has made it easy to start a business and together with backing from the government, has become a business hub rising from position 61 to 56 globally on the latest World Bank Ease of Doing Business report.
Kenya still remains a tourism hub and whereas majority of the inbound travellers came to Kenya for holiday and leisure, there was a notable drop from the holiday seekers from 73.9 percent in 2018 to 63.15 in 2010. The number of travellers travelling for business was at 13.5 percent while 10.6 percent came in to visit family and friends and the remaining 12.7 percent visited the country for various other reasons that include education, medical and shopping.
Over 1.4 million guests made their entry through the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, 128, 222 from the Moi International Airport in Mombasa and the remaining 496, 641 came in through other airports and entry points.
Also notable was the age bracket of travellers with the biggest cluster of travellers being aged between 35 and 44 years and constituting 30 percent of the travellers followed by 25 to 34-year olds at 29 percent.
The 25 to 34-year olds have been known to spend more when they travel, are more independent, adventurous and take longer holidays while the older group have family-oriented travel trends.
