Kenya tourism earnings hit a new record as international arrivals surge
Industry
The Ministry of Tourism announced a 17% year-on-year increase in visitor arrivals, with Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu leading port-of-entry numbers.
Kenya's tourism sector posted record earnings in the first five months of 2026, the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife announced on Monday, with international visitor arrivals up 17% year-on-year.
Total tourism receipts reached KES 287 billion between January and May, surpassing the same period in 2025 by nearly KES 42 billion. The Cabinet Secretary credited a combination of new direct flights, simplified e-visa processing and an aggressive global marketing campaign focused on European and North American source markets.
Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport remained the busiest port of entry, followed by Mombasa's Moi International and Kisumu International. Diani Airstrip on the south coast posted the strongest percentage growth, driven by new charter services from Germany and the UK.
Industry leaders welcomed the figures but cautioned that sustained growth would require continued investment in conservation, infrastructure and human-wildlife conflict management.
