Known as part of the country’s economic backbone, the
tourism sector has prompted the government to engage in serious processes to
grow it through diversification of products, market reassurance campaigns,
visa-free entry policies and, above all, infrastructure upgrades.
Infrastructure upgrades range from airports and seaports to
road connectivity, alongside strengthened airline partnerships with direct
routes to foreign destinations.
This demonstrates an impressive rebound and resilience of
the competitive sector, which has, in essence, seen international arrivals rise
by 60 per cent in recent years.
The government has also prioritised advancing the Meetings,
Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) agenda through the establishment
of convention bureaus, upgrading of the Kenya International Convention Centre
(KICC), and renovation of the Bomas of Kenya, among others, all aimed at
restoring the tourism sector to its former glory.
Through the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, the government
has expressly committed to cultivating strategic partnerships and sustainable
investments, to establish the coastal region as a leading tourism and investment destination for both domestic and international tourists, foster inclusive socio-economic development.
The coastal region, being the heartbeat of Kenya’s tourism,
is, in this regard, witnessing investments in modern infrastructure aimed at
boosting the sector and serving as an economic lifeline for residents, in line
with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
The government’s investment in the coastal region is a
worthy one, as it enables the fulfillment of the dreams and livelihoods of
hundreds of thousands of Kenyans. The area is well recognised for its pristine
beaches, rich culture, and other tourism attractions.
During the recent first-ever Kenya Coast Tourism Investment
Conference 2025, attended by investors from all over the world, the Cabinet
Secretary for the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, Rebecca Miano, said Kenya’s
coastline deserves to be world-class, hence the government’s call upon
investors to invest along the beautiful coastline.
“The Government of Kenya is rolling out a red carpet for
investors, and we are calling on both global hotel chains—and most
importantly—the Kenyan institutional investors to lead the reimagining of our
hotels, eco-lodges, wellness retreats and MICE facilities,” she said.
Miano noted that Kenya’s coastline forms a national jewel of
unmatched beauty, vibrant culture and rich history.
From our immaculate beaches and coral reefs to centuries-old
heritage sites, this region has always been a steady cornerstone of Kenya’s
tourism narrative, she observed.
“Indeed, the Coast accounts for nearly 60 per cent of all
international leisure arrivals, with destinations such as Mombasa City and
Kwale’s Diani beaches consistently ranking as favourites.
The latest data confirms that coastal tourism generates over
KShs. 100 billion annually, supporting hundreds of thousands of livelihoods in
the hospitality and transport sectors, as well as in cultural services,” Miano
added.
She, however, noted that despite the alluring natural
endowments, there exists formidable competition from neighbouring countries’
destinations, as they have aggressively modernised their facilities, attracting
significant international investments.
“To maintain and grow our market share, we must also
urgently reimagine and reposition our coastal assets to meet and, better yet,
surpass evolving global standards,” she insisted.
The CS added that the imperative for renewal aligns squarely
with President Dr William Ruto’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda,
which recognises tourism as a critical pillar for job creation, foreign
exchange earnings, and inclusive growth.
“Investing in our coast is, therefore, a direct investment
in the livelihoods and aspirations of the people of Kenya,” she noted.
“My ministry,” she added, “is committed to creating a
facilitative environment to transform Kenya’s tourism amenities and has, as
such, established investment-friendly policies, attractive tax incentives and
streamlined regulatory processes to enhance competitiveness.
“Currently, we are actively supporting public-private
partnerships to unlock large-scale projects while concurrently enhancing vital
infrastructure—from roads to digital connectivity—all with a strong focus on
sustainable and climate-resilient development,” she said.
She emphasised the ministry’s commitment to proactively
engage leading international hotel chains and developers to bring in
cutting-edge expertise and capital.
This, she said, will run simultaneously with the
mobilisation of domestic investors—from pension funds to high-net-worth
individuals—to embed Kenyan contribution to the growth of tourism at the very
heart of rebuilding assets.
Her State Department for Tourism Principal Secretary, Mr
John Ololtuaa, agrees that the Kenya Coast is an important tourism region and
investment hub with great potential to transform the tourism sector in Kenya.
“I call upon investors in the tourism sector to come and
invest in the Coast region, which has great potential,” he appealed.
June Chepkemei, the CEO of the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB),
noted that in 2024 Kenya welcomed over 2.4 million international visitors—a 14
per cent rise over the previous year—generating over KShs. 452.2 billion in
tourism earnings.
“By 2025, we are targeting to reach KShs. 650 billion, and
yet our coastline remains underutilised,” she regretted.
The CEO stated that demand is rising with infrastructure
expansion, as beachfront areas present available opportunities in eco-lodges,
boutique stays, wellness sanctuaries, marine conferences and cultural centres.
“A marine spatial plan is in development, expected to pave
the way for seaweed farming in aquaculture and marine conservation zones that
connect seamlessly with coastal tourism,” she affirmed.
With over 500 km of uninterrupted coastline offering vastly
different experiences within a single journey, our coast thrives year-round,
fuelled by African regional travellers, diaspora communities and rising global
arrivals. This confirms its openness for business, and my call is: ‘Let us
shape this future together,’” the CEO appealed.
OGS: Munira Mandano works at the Office of the Government
Spokesperso