The Kenyan government is aiming to boost domestic tourism numbers to 10 million visitors this year as part of its strategy to strengthen the sector’s post-pandemic recovery, Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano has announced.
Speaking at the commissioning of the newly refurbished Maasai Mara Research Centre in Narok County on Friday, Miano highlighted the growing interest among local tourists in exploring Kenya’s tourism attractions. She noted that last year, domestic tourism numbers reached five million, signaling a steady upward trend.
“We saw an upward surge in domestic tourism numbers last year where 5 million tourists visited various facilities. This shows an increase compared to previous years,” Miano said.
To achieve the ambitious target, the government is rolling out extensive marketing campaigns and developing attractive domestic tourism packages. The CS emphasized that many local tourists are often undocumented as they opt for guest houses and Airbnbs that are not registered in government records.
Miano also revealed that the government is working to increase international arrivals, setting a target of three million foreign tourists in 2024, up from 2.4 million last year. The state has identified new markets, including Poland, the Czech Republic, and Australia, while the U.S. and Uganda remain the country’s key source markets. Additionally, China and India continue to play a significant role in Kenya’s international tourism landscape.
“We have now diversified our products to new markets like Poland, the Czech Republic, and Australia, which are now contributing significantly, while the USA and Uganda remain our source markets. China and India also continue to be resilient,” she added.
During the event, Narok Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu emphasized the importance of research and conservation efforts in the Maasai Mara National Reserve. He acknowledged the longstanding ecological research conducted in the reserve but stressed the need for findings to translate into actionable conservation strategies.
“Historically, much of the scientific work done here has not always translated into actionable conservation strategies. This is an issue we must address, and I’m proud to note that the refurbishment of this research station is a critical step in aligning research efforts with conservation and sustainable management needs,” Ntutu said.
He further announced plans to recruit reserve ecologists and veterinary experts to enhance conservation and research initiatives within the Mara ecosystem.
The event was attended by Wildlife Principal Secretary Silvia Museiya, Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI) chairperson David Nkedienye, WRTI CEO Patrick Omondi, and Narok County’s Executive for Tourism Jackson Sipitiek.
