As of 2023, over 1.9 million international visitors arrived in Kenya. This represents a steady recovery in growth since 2020, when only 567.8 thousand visitors entered the country as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Like other nations worldwide, Kenya implemented measures to contain the spread of the virus, such as lockdown and flight restrictions. As a result, the passenger flow in the two main Kenyan airports was drastically low between March and July 2020. After flights resumed, the volume of visitors increased, however, they remained under the pre-pandemic level. Signs of recovery post-COVID-19 pandemicIn 2022, earnings from international arrivals in Kenya amounted to 268.1 billion Kenyan shilings (KSh), around 2.1 billion U.S. dollars. This represented an increase of some 83 percent in comparison to the previous year, when the Kenyan tourism sector recorded a revenue of roughly 89 billion KSh (690 million U.S. dollars). The COVID-19 crisis interrupted an upgoing trend in tourism earnings registered in the last years. Since 2015, the sector recorded growing revenue year-by-year, after a slow down started in 2011, as a consequence of an upsurge in violent terrorist attacks. Relevance of tourism in Kenya’s economyHome of Mount Kenya, the second highest mountain in Africa, Kenya is extensively known for its rich nature and wildlife. Tourism, therefore, plays a key role in the country’s economy. In 2020, the sector contributed 4.2 billion U.S. dollars to Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product. By the same year, travel and tourism accounted for 6.4 percent of the total employment. Lastly, international tourists spent 581 million U.S. dollars in Kenya, which was equivalent to six percent of the country’s exports.

International tourism receipts are expenditures by international inbound visitors, including payments to national carriers for international transport. These receipts include any other prepayment made for goods or services received in the destination country. They also may include receipts from same-day visitors, except when these are important enough to justify separate classification. For some countries they do not include receipts for passenger transport items. Data are in current U.S. dollars.

As of 2023, roughly 265,000 visitors from the United States arrived in Kenya, the largest number among all other countries. Over 201,000 visitors came from Uganda, while close to 158,000 were from Tanzania, both neighboring nations. Overall, Kenya recorded over 1.9 million international visitor arrivals that year. This shows a steady post-pandemic recovery since 2020, with the number almost reaching pre-pandemic levels recorded in 2019. Changes in airport movements Due to COVID-19 restrictions, passenger flight landings in Kenya decreased severely in the second quarter of 2020. In May 2020, the traffic in the country’s main airports reduced to less than 200 flights, only a few coming from abroad. Thus, 2020 turned out to record one of the lowest performances in the annual number of flight landings in Kenya. However, by the end of that year, signs of recovery were already spotted. The rebounding trend followed through 2021: Passenger flight landings increased by 40 percent compared to 2020, although the number remained 37.5 percent lower than the pre-coronavirus level. Touristic destination for international visitors Being the home of Mount Kenya, the second-highest mountain in Africa, Kenya attracts many tourists with its rich nature and wildlife. In 2021, nearly 300,000 international visitors chose the country as a holiday destination. This corresponded to roughly 35 percent of the total inbound visits. In 2019, previous to the COVID-19 pandemic, direct earnings from international tourism generated around 2.6 billion U.S. dollars. Inbound visitors spent mostly on accommodation, air passenger transport, and food and beverage services.

Tourist Arrivals in Kenya increased to 166961 in December from 129335 in November of 2024. This dataset provides - Kenya Tourist Arrivals- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In 2023, earnings from international arrivals in Kenya amounted to 352.5 billion Kenyan shillings (KSh), around 2.7 billion U.S. dollars. This represented an increase of around 32 percent in comparison to the previous year. In 2020, the number of international visitor arrivals in Kenya declined sharply, and, consequently, the sector’s revenue fell to 89 billion KSh (686 million U.S. dollars). The drop interrupted an up going trend in place since 2015. From that year onward, the country’s tourism industry had recorded an annual growing revenue, after a slowdown due to an upsurge in violent terrorist attacks in 2012. First signs of recovery in 2021 Worldwide, the tourism industry felt the dramatic effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In Kenya, the sector contracted, and its contribution to the country’s GDP roughly halved in 2020, compared to 2019. By the end of 2021, however, signals of recovery amid the tourism industry were already spotted. The monthly number of arrivals in both Jomo Kenyatta and Moi international airports in December that year corresponded to roughly 70 percent of that registered in December 2019. Additionally, as of March 2022, the bed occupancy rate in Kenyan hotels amounted to 57 percent, against 23 percent in March 2021. Tourism: a relevant industry in Kenya’s economy Kenya is extensively known for its rich nature and wildlife. The country is home to Mount Kenya, the second-highest mountain in Africa, and houses seven UNESCO World Heritage sites, such as the Lake Turkana national parks and the Lamu Old Town. Unsurprisingly, travel and tourism play a key role in the Kenyan economy. Despite the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the industry remained a relevant source of employment. As of 2020, tourism engaged roughly 6.4 percent of the total employment in Kenya.

As of January 2024, Kenya registered over 134,600 international visitors' arrivals, an decrease of about 9,300 arrivals from the preceding month. The country's tourism industry has been recovering from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which led to a dramatic decrease in the number of international tourists in 2020. Previous to the health crisis, the monthly number of visitors arrivals in the country oscillated but kept above 100,000.

Employment in travel and tourism in Kenya represented nearly eight percent of total employment in the country in 2021. The sector's contribution to employment increased from 7.3 percent in 2020, when the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic highly affected the Kenyan tourism sector. Despite the improvement, the share remained below that registered previous to the health crisis.

United States Visitor Arrivals: Africa: Kenya data was reported at 1,124.000 Person in Feb 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2,373.000 Person for Jan 2025. United States Visitor Arrivals: Africa: Kenya data is updated monthly, averaging 1,495.500 Person from Jan 2000 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 302 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4,814.000 Person in Aug 2019 and a record low of 8.000 Person in Apr 2020. United States Visitor Arrivals: Africa: Kenya data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Travel and Tourism Office. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.Q001: Visitor Arrivals.

Key information about Kenya Visitor Arrivals

• Kenya Visitor Arrivals recorded 1,985,100 person in Dec 2023, compared with 1,465,200 person in the previous year
• Kenya Visitor Arrivals data is updated yearly, available from Dec 1991 to Dec 2023
• The data reached an all-time high of 1,985,100 person in Dec 2023 and a record low of 542,400 person in Dec 2020

In 2021, travel and tourism contributed 5.4 billion U.S. dollars to Kenya's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The amount increased by nearly 35 percent compared to 2020, when the tourism industry struggled with the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Despite the recovery, the value added to the GDP remained below that registered previous to the health crisis.

In the first half of 2020, 45 percent of tourism businesses in Kenya estimated a revenue loss above 2.5 million Kenyan shillings, as an effect of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Roughly 23 percent indicated loosing from 500 thousand to 1 million KSh, while approximately 15 percent of businesses pointed a loss of revenue above 500 thousand KSh.

As of February 24, 2021, Kenya had over 105 thousand confirmed cases of coronavirus. Measures to contain the outbreak, such as a night curfew and the closing of bars are still in force. However, under tight COVID-19 regulations, the country resumed international flights on August 1, 2020.

Kunjungan Wisatawan Kenya dilaporkan sebesar 1,985,100 Orang pada 2023. Rekor ini naik dibanding sebelumnya yaitu 1,465,200 Orang untuk 2022. Data Kunjungan Wisatawan Kenya diperbarui tahunan, dengan rata-rata 1,198,500 Orang dari 1991 sampai 2023, dengan 33 observasi. Data ini mencapai angka tertinggi sebesar 1,985,100 Orang pada 2023 dan rekor terendah sebesar 542,400 Orang pada 2020. Data Kunjungan Wisatawan Kenya tetap berstatus aktif di CEIC dan dilaporkan oleh CEIC Data. Data dikategorikan dalam Global Economic Monitor World Trend Plus – Table: Tourist Arrivals: Annual.

Foreign Tourist Arrivals: Delhi Airport: Africa: Kenya data was reported at 5,790.000 Person in 2022. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,993.000 Person for 2021. Foreign Tourist Arrivals: Delhi Airport: Africa: Kenya data is updated yearly, averaging 5,790.000 Person from Dec 2008 (Median) to 2022, with 15 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6,924.000 Person in 2014 and a record low of 1,712.000 Person in 2020. Foreign Tourist Arrivals: Delhi Airport: Africa: Kenya data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Tourism. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Tourism Sector – Table IN.QB014: Foreign Tourist Arrivals: by Ports: Annual: New Delhi Airport.

Around 57.4 percent of tourism businesses in Kenya indicated having over 70 percent of the employees on unpaid leaves, as a consequence of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. As the sector has been deeply affected by the virus outbreak, the implementation of unpaid leaves was a way to cope with the loss of revenue.

Honduras Exports of articles of leather, animal gut, harness, travel good to Kenya was US$40 during 2020, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. Honduras Exports of articles of leather, animal gut, harness, travel good to Kenya - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on March of 2025.

Kenya E-Commerce Transactions: Value: Travel & Tourism: Car Rentals data was reported at 992.720 USD in 09 Apr 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 952.859 USD for 08 Apr 2024. Kenya E-Commerce Transactions: Value: Travel & Tourism: Car Rentals data is updated daily, averaging 1,224.882 USD from Dec 2018 (Median) to 09 Apr 2024, with 1433 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 23,599.574 USD in 15 Feb 2019 and a record low of 5.023 USD in 18 Jul 2020. Kenya E-Commerce Transactions: Value: Travel & Tourism: Car Rentals data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Grips Intelligence Inc.. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Kenya – Table KE.GI.EC: E-Commerce Transactions: by Category.

Kenya Exports of articles of leather, animal gut, harness, travel good to Yemen was US$12.14 Thousand during 2020, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. Kenya Exports of articles of leather, animal gut, harness, travel good to Yemen - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on March of 2025.

Foreign Tourist Arrivals: Hyderabad Airport: Africa: Kenya data was reported at 1,930.000 Person in 2022. This records an increase from the previous number of 842.000 Person for 2021. Foreign Tourist Arrivals: Hyderabad Airport: Africa: Kenya data is updated yearly, averaging 1,292.000 Person from Dec 2012 (Median) to 2022, with 11 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,930.000 Person in 2022 and a record low of 447.000 Person in 2020. Foreign Tourist Arrivals: Hyderabad Airport: Africa: Kenya data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Tourism. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Tourism Sector – Table IN.QB011: Foreign Tourist Arrivals: by Ports: Annual: Hyderabad Airport.

As of March 2022, around 76,300 visitors arrived in Kenya through the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). A smaller amount of 5,000 travelers disembarked at the Moi International Airport (MIA). Arrivals in both airports amounted to some 81,400, increasing compared to the previous month.

Hotel bed night occupancy by domestic visitors in Kenya amounted to roughly 3.1 million from January to September 2021. The number improved compared to 2020, when the Kenyan tourism industry felt hardest the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. That year, domestic bed occupancy totaled approximately 2.6 million, around 40 percent lower than in 2019.