The profit jump was fueled by the increase in the number of international arrivals, which also increased 91.3 percent to 924,812 from 883,246 last year.
The tourism sector earnings have more than doubled between January and August 2022, to hit 167 billion shillings from the 83 billion shillings recorded in a similar period last year.
The profit jump was fueled by the increase in the number of international arrivals, which also increased 91.3 percent to 924,812 from 883,246 last year.
“The international market is opening up after a slowdown during Covid,” Tourism and Wildlife CS Najib Balala said on Thursday during the official announcement of the tourism sector performance report at the Nairobi National Museum.
July had the highest number of arrivals at 149,411 compared to other months despite fear of political uncertainties. The key entry points were the Jomo Kenyatta international airport (JKIA), and the Moi International Airport in Mombasa.
JKIA recorded the highest number of arrivals at 681, 811 an increase from 355, 781 visitors recorded in a similar period last year. On the other hand, the number of visitors who came into the country through Moi International airport was 40,345 compared to 26,843 visitors recorded last year.
The highest number of visitors toured the country for holidays, with the total number standing at 313,466. On the other hand, 274, 722, visitors came to the country to visit family and friends. Those who arrived for education purposes were 16, 196, while 1,362 came into the country for sporting activities.
The United States was the top market for Kenyan tourism followed by Uganda and the UK. Arrivals from the United States grew 65 percent to 139,828. The ministry of tourism noted that most visitors arriving from the neighboring countries came mainly for business purposes.
The ministry now projects an increase in the number of total arrivals this year to 1.4 million, an increase from the 870,467 recorded at the end of December last year when the country was still battling the effects of the covid 19 pandemic.
“The year 2023 to 2024 will be for recovery,” the CS said.
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