Kenya’s tourism sector has recorded its strongest performance in recent years, with international visitor arrivals rising to 2.76 million in the 2025/26 financial year, reflecting a 9.8 per cent increase from the previous year, according to Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano.
Miano said the sustained growth demonstrates growing global confidence in Kenya as a preferred travel destination, with international arrivals increasing steadily from 1.21 million in 2021/22 to 2.76 million in 2025/26, more than doubling over the five-year period.
The Cabinet Secretary also announced that tourism earnings reached a record KSh564 billion, surpassing the ministry’s target of KSh529 billion. Revenue grew by 18.7 per cent compared to the previous financial year, up from KSh476 billion in 2024/25.
She attributed the growth to increased visitor numbers and higher spending by tourists, with the average expenditure per international visitor rising from KSh189,000 to KSh204,298.
Domestic tourism also continued its upward trajectory, with bed nights increasing to 5.15 million, a 2.6 per cent rise from 5.02 million recorded in 2024/25. Although the sector fell short of its target of 5.70 million bed nights by 554,000, Miano said the figures reflect sustained local demand and continued recovery across the hospitality industry.
The CS noted that consistent growth in both international and domestic tourism underscores the resilience of the sector and the effectiveness of government initiatives aimed at diversifying tourism products, improving destination marketing and enhancing visitor experiences.
She said the latest performance reinforces tourism’s contribution to Kenya’s economy through job creation, foreign exchange earnings and support for businesses in hospitality, transport, conservation and related industries.
Miano added that the government will continue investing in strategies that strengthen Kenya’s competitiveness as a leading global tourism destination while encouraging more domestic travel to sustain year-round growth
