Kenya has recorded a 40.8% growth in tourism numbers with 663,036 visitors in the period (January-October, 2021) compared to same period last year of 470,971 arrivals.
The US market recorded the highest arrivals into Kenya with 108,072 visitors contributing 16.3% of the total arrivals, Uganda was 2nd with 59,979 (9.0%), and Tanzania third with 58,946 (8.9%).
From Europe, the UK market in the 4th position led with 34,121 (5.1). Others in the order of arrivals were; India with 31,644 (4.8%), and China with 27,494 (4.1%).
In terms of the purpose of entry, Holiday is leading with 34.1% of the arrivals at 226,168, VFR at 194,342 (29.3%), Business and MICE at 178,779 (27.0%), On Transit at 32,879, and Others at 30,868 (4.75).
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Mitigation against Covid-19: Hospitality industry records 100% vaccination
The tourism sector has stepped up vaccination of its workers with hotel sector reporting almost a 100% vaccination of its staff.
A survey reveals that sector has domesticated all the safety and health protocols against the corona virus as specified by the ministry of health.
The government plans to vaccinate 10 million Kenyans by the end of 2021 with a plan to vaccinate 26 million Kenyans the full adult population by the end of 2022.
Positive outlook for domestic tourism in 2022
Next year could post good performances in tourism numbers as countries open up for travels after the outbreak of corona virus pandemic, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Travel and Tourism- Economic impact report.
Domestic travel growth is “significantly” expected outpace global tourism as a whole and is expected to rise exponentially in 2022, says the report. The U.S. market is expected to recover faster than many other regions due to the “predicted rise in international and domestic spend in 2021, both jobs and GDP are expected to raise.
