Realizing the full potential of Africa’s coastal tourism demands policy and legislative reforms to attract investments required to establish supportive infrastructure such as paved roads, electricity, clean water, and sanitation, executives said Thursday.

Convened by Africa’s Green Economy Summit and ESI Africa, an information dissemination firm, the virtual forum brought together policymakers, industry executives, and fund managers to explore innovative ways to unlock investments in the continent’s blue and green economies.

Coastal tourism in Africa is projected to surpass 100 billion U.S. dollars in value by 2030, creating 28 million jobs, noted Victor Shitakha, board chairman for Kenya Coast Tourism Association.

According to Shitakha, 80 percent of Africa’s tourism is concentrated in coastal towns, necessitating the urgency to conserve marine ecosystems, improve visa issuance to foreign visitors, revamp road networks, and ease access to critical services like health and banking.

“We need to fast-track implementation of open skies policy in the continent, harmonize travel, conserve beaches even as we engage key actors like divers, tour guides, and artifacts traders to make our coastal areas attractive to tourists,” Shitakha said.

In 2024, Africa received 92 million or 6 percent of the 1.5 billion tourists who traveled around the globe, Shitakha said, stressing the need for the continent to diversify tourist products to boost arrivals.

Africa’s coastal tourism holds the key to accelerating economic growth, creating new jobs for the youth, and enhancing the continent’s resilience in the face of climate change and geopolitical tensions, said Abel Sakhau, chief sustainability officer at Sanlam Group, a financial services group headquartered in South Africa.

Sakhau emphasized that fiscal incentives are key to unlocking foreign and domestic capital flow into Africa’s coastal tourism, stimulating the growth of start-ups aligned with the sector.

Judy Kepher-Gona, founder and executive director of Sustainable Travel and Tourism Africa, a consulting firm based in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, said the sector’s resilience hinges on investors’ willingness to adopt green ethos, upskill the workforce, and diversify to culture and heritage.

Investors should empower local custodians of scenic attractions while forging partnerships with regulators to improve governance in the tourism sector, Kepher-Gona said. 

Source: Standard Media

As the global tourism landscape begins to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, Kenya is rolling out a new ambitious tourism policy aimed at attracting international visitors. 

The National Government is keen to position the country as a premier destination in Africa, targeting a significant increase in tourist arrivals this year. 

Central to the strategy is the creation of financial incentives designed to attract both international airlines and charter services. The government plans to reduce airport service charges and aviation fuel costs, making it more cost-effective for airlines to operate in the country. 

“We want to lower the cost of doing business for airlines to encourage more routes to Kenya,” said Principal Secretary for Tourism John Ololtuaa. “This will not only increase tourist arrivals but also enhance connectivity within the region.” By targeting key international markets in Europe, Asia, and North America, Kenya aims to diversify its tourist demographics. 

The government is also focused on attracting charter services that cater to niche markets, such as adventure and eco-tourism, which are gaining popularity among travellers seeking unique experiences. 

To support its tourism goals, Kenya is investing in the modernisation of airports and airstrips. 

Upgrades will focus on enhancing facilities and services, creating an efficient environment for airlines while improving the overall traveller experience. 

The government’s goal is to transform Kenya into a regional hub for both international and domestic tourism. 

Additionally, the government plans to streamline travel processes. This includes re-engineering the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system to make it easier for tourists to obtain necessary permits. 

Simplifying visa requirements will lower barriers for potential travellers, making Kenya an even more appealing destination. 

Recognising that collaboration with the private sector is essential, the Kenyan government is actively seeking partnerships with airlines and tourism operators.

These collaborations will not only enhance marketing efforts but also provide a platform for public-private partnerships (PPPs) that can drive investment in tourism infrastructure. 

As part of its strategy, Kenya aims to promote the East African region as a single tourist destination. 

This joint marketing initiative will eliminate barriers to travel within the region, encouraging tourists to explore multiple countries during their visit. 

The new policy also emphasises the importance of domestic tourism as a way to bridge the gaps in international travel. 

By developing a Domestic Tourism Strategy, the government hopes to encourage Kenyans to explore their own country, thereby boosting local economies and fostering national pride. 

With initiatives to promote under-visited sites and affordable tourism options, the government aims to make travel within Kenya accessible for all citizens. 

This focus on domestic tourism is expected to complement international efforts, providing a well-rounded approach to enhancing overall visitor numbers. 

As Kenya prepares to welcome an estimated three million tourists by the end of this year, the optimism surrounding the tourism sector is palpable. 

The government’s proactive measures, including competitive incentives for airlines and a focus on infrastructure development, signal a commitment to revitalising tourism. 

With the right strategies in place, Kenya aims to reclaim its position as a leading tourist destination in Africa. 

By enhancing accessibility and promoting unique travel experiences, the country is poised for a robust recovery, setting the stage for a vibrant tourism landscape in the coming years.

Source: Standard Media

The vessel arrived from Victoria Port in Seychelles with the tourists from various countries who will spend two days in the coastal town.

The tourism sector at the coast has received another major boost after the cruise ship MS Ambience carrying 1,700 passengers tourists docked at the port of Mombasa Wednesday morning.

Announcing the arrival, the Kenya Ports Authority said the vessel arrived from Victoria Port in Seychelles with tourists from various countries who will spend two days in the coastal town.

“We have received a fleet of vessels since the circuit began sometime in September last year. The Port of Mombasa is honoured to receive cruise vessel MS Ambience on a maiden voyage to Mombasa,” KPA said.

KPA confirmed that additional ships are anticipated to arrive at the port before the cruise season concludes next month.

“This has been supported by the now operational ultra-modern Cruise Terminal which was developed by the Authority to enhance passenger experience at the Port of Mombasa and solidify Kenya’s position as a hub not only for cargo operations but also for cruise tourism in Africa,” noted KPA.

Tourists disembark from MS Ambience after the ship docked at the Mombasa Port on March 27, 2024. (Photo: KPA)

The MS Ambience is scheduled to dock in Durban after departing from Mombasa.

Last month the Bahamas-flagged cruise ship MV World Odyssey ‘Semester at Sea’ made its third visit to the port of Mombasa.

Popularly known as “Semester at Sea” the World’s biggest floating campus which operates academic voyages for students was in Mombasa for six days.

KPA said the port of Mombasa has recorded an increase in cruise vessel calls pointing to improved connectivity at the port which has positioned it not only for cargo operations but also as a hub for cruise tourism in Africa.

A tourist dances after disembarking from MS Ambience at the Mombasa Port on March 27, 2024. (Photo: KPA)

The port has also received its first caller vessels since the beginning of the year.

First callers are vessels that dock at a port for the first time to load/discharge cargo or for passengers to embark or disembark.

Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua last month said the government is expecting around Sh2 billion from cruise ship tourism.

Source: Eastleigh voice

NAIROBI, Jan.15 (Xinhua) — Kenya’s tourism ministry said on Tuesday that it aims to attract about 200,000 travelers over the next five years by tapping into the adventure tourism market.

Rebecca Miano, cabinet secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, said the East African country has launched the Magical Kenya Mountain and Trail Series to diversify the sector away from beach and wildlife products.

“Through these initiatives, we seek not only to attract more international visitors but also to promote local tourism and create economic opportunities for the communities involved,” she said in a statement.

According to Miano, the Magical Kenya Mountain and Trail Series encompasses a diverse range of activities, including hiking, biking, cultural immersions, and farm tours across five counties of Laikipia, Elgeyo Marakwet, Uasin Gishu, Baringo, and Nandi.

June Chepkemei, chief executive officer (CEO) of the state-owned Kenya Tourism Board, said adventure tourism will allow visitors to discover hidden gems by traversing unique terrains and immersing themselves in the rich and diverse cultures of the participating counties.

Chepkemei noted that adventure tourism is also expected to enable Kenya to develop new tourism pathways by improving its tourism sector beyond the 2.4 million international visitors and 350 billion Kenyan shillings (about 2.7 billion U.S. dollars) in revenue generated in 2024.

She said the tourism sector remains one of the key pillars of the country’s economy as well as a key source of foreign exchange earnings alongside tea, horticulture, and diaspora remittances.

Kenya anticipates hosting more adventure enthusiasts and nature lovers, both local and international, who are keen to celebrate Kenya’s beauty through hiking, biking, farm tours, and tea and coffee tastings, the CEO added.

Source: Capital Fm

At least another month and a half of top tourism, hotel occupancy over 70 per cent and all the induced activity that the arrival of foreign guests can bring to Kenya. This is the scenario that lies ahead from mid-January to the end of February, especially for the coast and its holiday resorts.

With the reopening of schools and the resumption of work for most Kenyans in the city, the influx of local tourism, which in the very high season, the one coinciding with the Christmas holidays, was added to the more ‘pre-paid’ tourism, i.e. those who did not mind paying much more for air tickets and accommodation. The large numbers were also supported by those who had already arrived in Kenya before Christmas and opted for a longer holiday period.

Now, however, on a daily basis, those who had already planned their holidays after the binge period are entering Kenya and finding a few more opportunities and slightly less overcrowding.
According to the regional hospitality associations, occupancy remains high, especially in Watamu, Diani and the satellite towns of Mombasa, and the grace period of tented camps and lodges in the savannah also continues, with excellent results especially for Maasai Mara and Amboseli.

The Ministry of Tourism is confident of surpassing the sector’s growth from 2022 to 2023, with 34% more presences and a recovery rate of 88% compared to the pre-pandemic period.
‘We will do even better this year,’ said Deputy Minister, John Lekakeny Ololtuaa, ’we are on track to return to contributing 10% to the Gross Domestic Product.

Tourism in Kenya is also the second largest source of foreign exchange earnings, behind only the agriculture sector which earns Kenya about 70 per cent of its GDP.
While we are waiting for the final figures for 2024, which should confirm the increase in presences and provide other interesting data, the Kenyan government expects to exceed 3 million presences in 2025, after this promising start to the year and the projections for the following months, also due to the ‘High Easter’, scheduled for 20 April.

Source: Malindi Kenya