Global travel magazine Condé Nast Traveller has named Kenya the friendliest country in the world, according to votes submitted by its readers.
Kenya made the top of the 2025 top 10 list alongside countries such as Thailand, Mexico, Cambodia, Mauritius and Vietnam.
With a high score of 98.46, the magazine said that the safari guides influenced the result for most of its readers.
“…behind each lovely Kenyan safari, there’s a whole host of even lovelier guides who make you feel completely at ease, even when metres away from a prowling lion,” the article read.
The article further mentioned the country’s vibrant “nightlife and dreamy coastlines” as another reason Kenya was a destination of choice.
Tourism is one of Kenya’s key revenue sectors with expanded visitor days of 18.6 million in 2024, up from 17 million in 2023. The average length of stay also improved slightly from 11.9 days to 12.1 days, indicating that tourists are spending more time exploring the country’s attractions.
According to the Economic Survey 2025 released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), strategic initiatives undertaken by the government and private sector players led to an increase in international visitor arrivals, hotel occupancy, and the average length of stay.
“The concerted efforts made to diversify tourism products, improve connectivity, and enhance the visitor experience are bearing fruit. We are thrilled to see positive indicators across the board, with growth recorded in key segments like Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism,” Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) CEO June Chepkemei said in a statement.
