In a significant move to enhance the safety of tourists and boost the country’s travel sector, the Kenyan government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) focused on tourist security.
According to Katakenya.org, the agreement, signed by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki and Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano, aims to improve cooperation with the National Police Service.
The MoU will provide resources to the Tourism Police Unit through the Tourism Fund, ensuring the safety and well-being of both local and foreign visitors. Kindiki stated that this collaboration would help expand the sector and create more job opportunities.
The government aims to increase annual foreign tourist arrivals from 2 million to 5 million by 2027 and 10 million by 2032. Kenya generated Sh142.5 billion in tourism revenue in the first half of 2024, with international visitors increasing by 21.3% compared to 2023. Tourism CS Miano highlighted the ministry’s commitment to strengthening links with the private sector, aiming to make tourism the country’s leading foreign exchange earner and job creator. Domestic tourism also saw growth, with a 10% increase in bed nights recorded compared to the previous year.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by senior government officials, including Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and Kenya Police Service Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat. The Ministry of Tourism is devising a new strategy to increase international tourist arrivals to boost the number from the current about 2 million arrivals yearly. Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano spoke while hosting tourism players at an event in Nairobi said Kenya generated Sh 142.5 billion in tourism revenue during the first half of this year.
She revealed that this was attributed to a significant rise in visitor numbers, according to the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB). “During my interaction with the tourism sector stakeholders, I made a commitment to build strong linkages with the private sector and to make the tourism industry the number one contributor of foreign exchange earnings and job creation,” stated Miano. According to KTB Kenya welcomed 1.03 million international visitors, marking a 21.3 percent increase from 847,810 visitors received during the same period in 2023. Domestic tourism also saw growth, with 2.25 million bed nights recorded, about a 10 percent increase from 2.06 million bed nights in the previous year.