Kenya’s tourism sector surpassed over one million international arrivals in H1 2024, marking a 21.3% increase over the first half of 2023 and putting the country on track to comfortably surpass pre-COVID arrivals by the end of the year.
Speaking at an event in the Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya Tourism Board CEO June Chepkemei said that international arrivals totalled 1 027 630 between January and the end of June, up from the 874 300 recorded during the same period last year.
The second half of the year will see a significant increase in visitor numbers, with the high season – centred on the Great Migration – currently in full swing, due to be followed by the festive season. This means that the country is set to comfortably surpass the 1.9 million international arrivals recorded for the full-year 2023, when visitor numbers reached 95% of pre-COVID 2019 levels.
Kenya’s government has set a target of attracting three million tourists to the East African country in 2024.
The country’s new Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano has pledged to fast-track strategies aimed at achieving arrivals targets, including the revamping of the National Tourism Policy.
