The Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife is pursuing strategies to make credit more accessible and affordable for hospitality industry players, in a renewed effort to boost international tourist arrivals and stimulate domestic travel.
Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano announced the initiative during the 2025 Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers Symposium, emphasizing the need to strengthen Kenya’s competitiveness as a leading destination.
“One of the areas of focus the government is keen on is making credit for the hospitality industry more accessible and affordable,” Miano said. “That way, we shall encourage more investors to put up modern facilities that can be marketed across the country.”
The ministry aims to grow tourist arrivals to 2.5 million by the end of 2025, with a long-term goal of attracting 5 million international visitors annually by 2027. In addition, Miano highlighted plans to revamp domestic tourism, describing it as a vital but underappreciated pillar of the sector.
“Encouraging our own people to rediscover their homeland is the best way of embellishing the bedrock of our industry’s stability,” she noted.
As part of regional tourism initiatives, Kenya is preparing to welcome at least 300,000 visitors from Uganda, thanks to visa-free access and attractive cross-border travel packages.
The ministry is also working to implement an open skies policy to enhance air connectivity and visitor flow. Moreover, it is exploring the use of artificial intelligence in destination marketing, particularly to attract younger travelers through targeted digital campaigns.
These multifaceted measures are expected to drive investment in hospitality infrastructure, stimulate local economies, and position Kenya as a premier global tourism destination.
Written By Rodney Mbua
