World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) report indicate that the travel and tourism industry in Kenya has in the past grown faster than all other regional average and above all other economies in Sub-Sahara.
Travel and tourism recorded a growth of 5.6 percent in the year 2018 after making a total of Sh790 billion. The sector also created 1.1 million jobs to the Kenyan economy.
The global growth rate average stands at 3.9 percent and that of Sub-Saharan Africa at 3.3 percent, Kenya’s growth being considered more vibrant than any other at 5.6 percent making Kenya rank third largest economy in Sub-Saharan Africa. South Africa and Nigeria take the lead after their economy grew in 2018.
The sector recorded over Sh157 billion spent by international tourists to Kenya last year, a total of over 15% of the total exports recorded. Some of the countries that had the visitors to Kenya being the USA at 11%, UK 9 percent, India 6 percent, China 4 percent, and Germany 4 percent. The sector supported 8.8 percent of the country’s GDP worth Sh790 billion in the year 2018.
“Africa is one of the great success stories of global travel as the second fastest growing region in the world – and Kenya lies at the heart of the region, a popular and renowned destination that has seen huge growth in tourism activity and value over the past year.” Said WTTC President & CEO Gloria Guevara.
“I would like to particularly acknowledge the vision of President Uhuru Kenyatta and his commitment to Travel & Tourism as a means of driving economic growth and alleviating poverty.
The Ministry of Tourism & Wildlife, under the leadership of Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala, must be congratulated for growing tourism at a rate above the global and regional average and for attracting over two million international visitors for the first time in 2018,” she said.
“The gains of the sector are as a result of coordinated efforts between various arms of government, whom the tourism sector has engaged, as well as the concerted efforts in marketing Kenya as a destination of choice,” said Balala as he expressed his satisfaction from the performance.
