International tourism arrivals to Kenya is set to hit 4 million tourists by 2030. This quadruple increase in the figures is part of the audacious tourism masterplan, National Tourism Blueprint-2030, the ministry and the Kenya Tourism Board is aggressively pursuing.
Speaking at the official opening of the 8th Magical Kenya Travel Expo, the Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife said, said his Ministry has embarked on the implementation of the National Tourism Blueprint 2030. The NTB 2030 is the transformational framework for the tourism sector.
According to the blueprint, Kenya will quadruple the number of foreign tourist overnight arrivals to at least 4 million visitors by 2030. The number of domestic tourists is further expected to double to 26,443,200 domestic overnight visitors by 2030.
The Blueprint has further set out to more than double the contribution of tourism and job creation in Kenya’s economy to a direct spend of KSh. 1.14 trillion along with 561,800 direct jobs by 2030.
The Minister further revealed that the ”Ministry’s strategy is to encourage international brands plus the local brands to go into the western region, North rift as well as the beach destination. Our strategy is how do we open the country to be able to reach the numbers .Number one is infrastructure, investments, product development and finally marketing. we have directed the Kenya Tourism Board to change the strategies of how the country is marketed particularly using digital platforms”he added.
He added that, the Ministry will seek the support of UNWTO in the area of skills and training as it opens a training institute in Mombasa next year.
Visiting UNWTO Secretary General Ambassador Zurab Pololikashvili paid glowing tribute to the Minister for his hardworking and ensuring in ensuring kenya benefits from tourism. He said, his outfit will be working with the Ministry to ensure how to make Magical Kenya Travel Expo more bigger with innovations and partnership with other global brands.
This year’s show recorded 185 exhibitors up from 140 that participated last year. Further, the number of hosted buyers at this year’s expo has risen to 150 up from 132 recorded last year.
