Thursday, June 27, 2024 The World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) 2024 Economic Impact Report (EIR) has disclosed a groundbreaking year for the travel and tourism industry in Kenya, contributing an unprecedented KES1TN to the country’s economy in 2023. Employment within the sector surged by 6%, reaching an all-time high of 1.55 million jobs, equivalent to one out of every 13 jobs nationwide.
Domestic tourism expenditures soared to over KES 466BN last year, marking an increase of nearly 15% from its previous high and establishing a new record, although international visitor spending has yet to surpass the peak of 1999, reaching just KES 266BN. Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO , said; “The recovery of Kenya’s Travel & Tourism sector is a testament to its resilience. Achieving record-breaking growth across economic contribution, jobs, and domestic visitor spending highlights the sector’s vital role in the nation’s economy.
“Although international visitor spending is currently lagging behind its high point, the future of Travel & Tourism in Kenya looks strong, with substantial opportunities for growth and development over the next decade.” Looking Ahead to This Year The latest findings by the global tourism organization predict a 9% annual growth for the sector, potentially raising its economic contribution to nearly KES 1.15TN.
The number of jobs the sector supports is expected to exceed 1.6 million, accounting for about 8% of all jobs in Kenya. Spending by .
