NAIROBI, Kenya, May 3 – The number of tourists visiting Kenya grew by 76.9 percent last year to 1.54 million compared to the previous year after the number of international visitors grew.
The latest data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows that arrivals increased from 871,300 in 2021.
While visits through the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) rose to 1.2 million, arrival through Moi International Airport went up to 692,900.
“The increase was mainly on account of continued relaxation of COVID-19 travel restrictions in 2022,” KNBS said in the report.
Out of 1.54 million tourists, holidays represented 559,100, business (420,600), transit (75,800), and others (485,400).
“The number of visitor arrivals on holiday accounted for 36.3 per cent of all international arrivals in 2022 while those on business accounted for 27.3 per cent,” KNBS said.
However, arrivals were still low compared to the pre-Covid period, when the country welcomed over 2 million visitors annually.
In the review period, hotel occupancy rose from 551,700 to 700,900, representing a 27 percent growth.
“The number of international conferences and delegates increased from 292 and 9,093 in 2021 to 896 and 23,105 in 2022, respectively,” the report added.
“Similarly, the number of local conferences and delegates increased from 8,117 and 164,924 in 2021 to 9,662 and 615,373 in 2022, respectively.”
Likewise, visitors to national parks and game reserves increased by 69.1 percent to 254,300.
Trips to select museums, snake parks, and historical sites more than doubled from 403,700 to 843,700.
