Kenya records 14.7pc rise in international tourist arrivals in 2024 - Report
The number of international visitors arriving through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi grew by 10.1 per cent to 1,627,837, while those arriving via Moi International Airport (MIA) in Mombasa rose by 30.6 per cent to 204,891.
Kenya welcomed a total of 2,394,376 international tourists in 2024, up from 2,086,769 in 2023, representing a 14.7 per cent increase, the 2025 Economic Survey released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) has revealed.
Approximately 44.3 per cent of international arrivals travelled to Kenya for holiday purposes, while 26.9 per cent visited for business.
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Transit passengers accounted for 4.2 per cent of total arrivals, while 24.7 per cent visited for other reasons, including medical, volunteer, and religious purposes, among others.
Kenya’s growth surpassed the global average, with the United Nations World Tourism Organisation reporting an 11 per cent increase in international tourist arrivals globally during the review period.
During the same period, Africa received 74 million visitors, marking a 12 per cent increase from 2023.
The number of international visitors arriving through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi grew by 10.1 per cent to 1,627,837, while those arriving via Moi International Airport (MIA) in Mombasa rose by 30.6 per cent to 204,891.
Arrivals through both JKIA and Moi International Airport were higher in all months of 2024 compared to 2023, largely due to key developments in the aviation sector, including the expansion of airline networks.
Additionally, other border points jointly received 561,648 visitors during the review period, up from 451,448 the previous year.
KNBS attributed the improved performance to strategic measures, including the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), among other interventions.
“In Kenya, the tourism sector registered improved performance in 2024, mainly attributed to strategic interventions such as the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), aggressive marketing, enhanced tourism product diversification, and the adoption of digital tools including smart booking platforms and targeted online promotion,” the report reads.
“The performance was also boosted by the entry and return of long-haul carriers.”
The report further revealed that visits to national parks and game reserves grew by 2.8 per cent to 3,741,900, while the number of visitors to museums, snake parks, and historical sites increased by 6.9 per cent to 1,152,700.
The number of hotel bed-nights in Kenya also increased by 18.9 per cent to 10.26 million in 2024, largely driven by American tourists, whose bed-night occupancy rose by 37 per cent to 846,000 during the year.
“Kenyan residents occupied 47.9 per cent of the total bed-nights in 2024. Additionally, hotel bed-night capacity grew by 7.7 per cent to 35.54 million in 2024,” the report states.
“Hotel bed-nights occupied by Kenyan residents at the coast grew by 11.8 per cent to 2.47 million. Meanwhile, the number of international conferences held in the country increased by 2.3 per cent to 999, while local conferences rose by 4.7 per cent to 11,225, supported by growth in visitor arrivals and the hosting of high-profile meetings.”
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