Mombasa: The Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Tourism and Wildlife, Rebbeca Miano, has affirmed that the country’s tourism sector is on an undeniable upward trajectory based on the surge of local and international tourists. Speaking at the Mama Ngina Waterfront in Mombasa during the national celebrations of the United Nations World Tourism Day, CS Miano stated that the tourism sector is experiencing remarkable growth, with a new record of 2.4 million international arrivals in 2024, marking a 15 percent increase from the previous year.

According to Kenya News Agency, the United States retained the top source market, contributing 12.8 percent of total arrivals (306,501 visitors), followed by Uganda (9.4 percent) and Tanzania (8.4 percent). Inbound tourism revenue grew significantly, rising from Sh377.49 billion in 2023 to Sh452.20 billion in 2024, a 19.8 percent increase. Domestic tourism also expanded, with bed-night occupancy climbing 12 percent to 5.17 million in 2024, up from 4.6 million the previous year.

The CS highlighted the highest performance in tourism last year, and she noted that the numbers are getting even better. She attributed this success to the support and leadership of the President, allowing for reimagining and rebranding of the tourism sector. She emphasized collaboration with County Governments and private sector players to achieve the ambitious target of five million international tourists and 10 million domestic tourists by 2027.

CS Miano outlined strategies to strengthen the sector, including opening the skies and licensing more airlines to operate directly in Mombasa. She advised county governments to establish tourism units and form tourism councils, noting that each county has unique tourism products.

The CS stressed the importance of tourism as a critical pillar for the country’s economy, providing employment mainly for the youth, with over 80 percent of employees in tourism and hospitality sectors being young people. She pointed out tourism’s contribution to foreign currency earnings and its significant share of the GDP.

Governor Abdulswamad Nassir praised the Mombasa Tourism Council for its efforts in revitalizing the sector and noted that the county has several events planned for the upcoming December season.