Kenya’s Ministry of Interior has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Tourism to enhance tourist security. The agreement, signed by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki and Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano, aims to improve cooperation with the National Police Service.

The MoU will provide resources to the Tourism Police Unit through the Tourism Fund, ensuring the safety and well-being of both local and foreign visitors. Kindiki stated that this collaboration would help expand the sector and create more job opportunities.

The government aims to increase annual foreign tourist arrivals from 2 million to 5 million by 2027 and 10 million by 2032. Kenya generated Sh142.5 billion in tourism revenue in the first half of 2024, with international visitors increasing by 21.3% compared to 2023.

Tourism CS Miano highlighted the ministry’s commitment to strengthening links with the private sector, aiming to make tourism the country’s leading foreign exchange earner and job creator. Domestic tourism also saw growth, with a 10% increase in bed nights recorded compared to the previous year.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by senior government officials, including Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and Kenya Police Service Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat.

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Source: AllAfrica

Kenya’s tourism sector is set for a significant boost following the unveiling of nine regional tourism circuits by the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife.

Launched as part of the broader Tembea Kenya initiative, the circuits aim to diversify Kenya’s tourism offerings and promote lesser-known attractions, targeting both domestic and international tourists.

These circuits, covering all 47 counties, mark a renewed effort to reimagine the country’s tourism landscape and present Kenya as a destination that offers a wide array of experiences ranging from adventure and culture to eco-tourism and wellness.

The launch event, held in Kisumu County, was graced by Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife, Hon. Rebecca Miano, who underscored the importance of the circuits in reinvigorating Kenya’s tourism industry.

Miano emphasized that these circuits would provide travelers with holistic and immersive experiences, taking them on a journey through Kenya’s diverse attractions. She highlighted the initiative’s focus on aligning with global travel trends, while emphasizing conservation and sustainability.

The circuits are designed to cater to various niche markets, including adventure, sports, cultural tourism, eco-tourism, and wellness tourism, offering something for every type of traveler.

The nine tourism circuits span different regions: the Nairobi Circuit, Central Kenya Circuit, Coastal Circuit, Northern Circuit, Western Circuit, Southern Circuit, North Rift Circuit, South Rift Circuit, and Eastern Circuit.

Each circuit showcases unique features from the respective regions, ranging from Nairobi’s urban culture to the beaches and marine life of the Coastal Circuit, the desert landscapes in the Northern Circuit, and the rich cultural heritage of the Western Circuit.

This regional approach is expected to encourage travelers to explore Kenya in a more immersive way, highlighting attractions that were previously overlooked or underdeveloped.

One of the core goals of the Tembea Kenya initiative is to stimulate domestic tourism by encouraging Kenyans to explore the beauty and diversity of their own country. To achieve this, Miano announced plans for targeted marketing campaigns to promote the circuits among local travelers.

She urged Kenyans to savor the diverse experiences their home regions have to offer, and revealed that the Ministry will be launching a nationwide photo contest, inviting citizens to share images that capture the essence of their regions. The initiative not only promotes tourism but also encourages pride in local culture and heritage.

The unveiling of the nine circuits coincided with Kenya Tourism Week celebrations, which took place in Kisumu County. As part of the celebrations, various events and activities were organized to highlight the unique tourist attractions of the region, including visits to Ndeere Island and tree planting at Kajulu Hills.

Cultural showcases, such as fashion shows and street art displays, also took center stage. The involvement of local youth was a key element of the celebrations, with hackathons and other programs providing platforms for young people to demonstrate their innovation and creativity in promoting tourism.

Narok County Governor, Patrick Ole Ntutu, who chairs the Council of Governors’ Tourism and Wildlife Committee, expressed strong support for the new circuits.

He called for increased government investment in the tourism sector, pointing out that tourism, if properly developed, has the potential to become the largest contributor to Kenya’s GDP and a major source of employment, particularly for the youth.

Ntutu emphasized the immense potential of the tourism sector in driving economic growth across counties, and he pledged to advocate for greater prioritization of tourism at the county level.

According to Ntutu, the new circuits provide an opportunity for counties to harness their unique attractions and contribute to the national economy.

Youth engagement and participation were key themes at the event, as evidenced by the tourism excellence awards that were presented. Categories like Start-up Company of the Year, Conservation Champion of the Year, Travel Content Creator of the Year, Peace Advocate, and Community Impact Award recognized the contributions of individuals and organizations making a positive impact in tourism and conservation.

The youth-driven hackathon also garnered attention, producing an innovative technology-based solution for conference packaging, which could further enhance Kenya’s tourism sector.

Principal Secretary for Tourism, John Ololtuaa, reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to working closely with county governments to enhance the competitiveness of tourism destinations across all regions.

He noted that the circuits would enable the Ministry to focus efforts on increasing bed nights, lengthening visitor stays, encouraging repeat visits, and ultimately improving the overall visitor experience.

By collaborating with counties, the Ministry aims to address any existing gaps in infrastructure and services, ensuring the growth of tourism nationwide.

Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) CEO, June Chepkemei, emphasized that the KTB would play a key role in marketing the circuits to highlight Kenya’s diverse attractions. She pointed out that promoting tourism in all counties would drive inclusive growth and solidify Kenya’s position as a must-visit destination for both local and international travelers.

Chepkemei highlighted that by showcasing the unique offerings of every region, the circuits will spread tourism benefits more evenly, helping to uplift local economies and create opportunities for communities across the country.

The unveiling of the nine tourism circuits marks a major milestone in Kenya’s tourism strategy, offering travelers new, exciting, and diverse experiences.

By promoting regional tourism and focusing on emerging travel trends, Kenya is poised to enhance its reputation as a top global destination while boosting domestic travel. The circuits have energized the tourism sector, with county governments, local communities, and youth actively participating in shaping the future of Kenya’s tourism industry.

As the Kenya Tourism Week celebrations come to a close, it is clear that the country’s tourism landscape is set to enter a dynamic new phase, with the circuits playing a crucial role in driving sustainable growth and enhancing the visitor experience.

Source:   Standard Media

Though better known for her iconic safaris and exquisite beach experiences, Kenya has huge untapped niche tourism potential awaiting exploration. Niche tourism—a preserve of adventure seekers looking for distinct experiences and enthusiasts of a range of thrills and penchants—presents an opportunity that Kenya’s tourism should consider veering into more intentionally. But which are Kenya’s most viable niche tourism offerings? Let’s consider six of the many.

Tembea Kenya

Cultural tourism can draw from Kenya’s vast traditional heritage with her close to 50 people groups. This form of tourism feeds off the curiosity of visitors desirous of immersions built around unique time-garlanded antiquity of such people as Waswahili or the Maa communities. That is not to say each community does not have its distinctive allures tenable for cultural tourism. Far from it! The best way of embellishing this particular niche of tourism is to include homestays and cultural tours. 

On eco-cum-conservation tourism, Kenya’s noteworthy biodiversity and keen commitment to conservation offer a reasonable foundation for eco-tourism. This niche enchants eco-conscious travellers who have a lot to sample in Kenya.

Adventure and sports tourism offers a low-hanging option for Kenya. Beyond our famed world-class athletes, marathoners and long-distance runners especially, Kenya is ripe for mountaineering, scuba diving, bird-watching, rock climbing, kite surfing and water rafting and more.

Kenya’s culinary diversity is excellent fodder for gastronomy tourism with her wide variety of flavourful dishes. Tourists can explore local food markets, take cooking classes and enjoy food tours that showcase Kenyan cuisine, from traditional delights to modern fusion dishes.

Kenya’s credentials as a travel hub with relatively good weather all year round makes for a perfect wellness and relaxation haven. From relaxation retreats to medical tourism, Kenya has what it takes to grow the wellness tourism niche.

Bird-watching tourism, is a rich niche tourism option for Kenya, courtesy of our diverse ecosystems that include wetlands, forests and grasslands where a wide variety of bird species dwell. Developing bird-watching trails, offering guided tours and promoting bird festivals can easily attract bird enthusiasts from around the world.

For niche tourism to thrive and attract good numbers, we need a strategic partnership with the private sector and feasible business models.

Private sector players are well placed to invest in accommodation facilities that are in sync with specific adventures tourists attracted by different niches would appreciate. For instance, hikers and bird-watchers are more likely to embrace camping sites with tented accommodation as opposed to tourists seeking medical tourism. This reality calls for thoughtfully designed facilities and experiences that offer entrepreneurs opportunities for investments. Transport is yet another area that the private sector can invest in to offer appropriate modes of moving tourists to their destination, be it in luxury vehicles of rugged carriages. Besides, for certain niche tourism experiences we need investors to set up such facilities as yoga studios, spas, botanical gardens, nature trails and so on.

It is one thing setting up niche tourism products but quite another telling the world what Kenya has on offer. Therefore, the private sector has its work cut out in marketing and branding so that tourists in all corners of the earth get the necessary information packaged captivatingly for uptake.

Ms Miano is the CS for Tourism and Wildlife

Source: Standard Media