Tourist arrivals in Kenya reached 305,635 between January and June 2021, more than the total yearly arrivals recorded last year, a sign that the industry is on a solid rebound.
In 2020, Kenya’s annual tourist arrivals hit a bottom of 567,800 after a lockdown in its primary source markets and suspension of international travel cut down on visitor arrivals and closure of entertainment and leisure joints.
According to an International Tourism Performance Report, covering the period between January and June 2021, total international tourist arrivals were 96,003 females and 209 632 males.
Tourist performance report
This performance report looks at the number of international arrivals by entry points, purposes of visit, nationalities and gender from January to June 2021.
A total of 218,992 arrivals, or 71.65%, was recorded at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), while 16,054 visitors, comprising 5.25%, used Moi International Airport as the point of entry.
Some 69,284 visitors, made up of 22.67% of total arrivals, was made through other entrances.
In terms of arrivals by purpose of visit, 92,828 visitors came to Kenya for business or Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions(MICE), while 15,811 visitors were on transit.
Some 3,592 visitors came to Kenya to seek medical treatment, 1,722 for religious pilgrimage, 1,722 for sporting activities, and 8,637 visitors were made of those seeking education opportunities. In contrast, 87,629 came to Kenya for holiday and leisure activities.
The highest category was 94,241 foreigners who came into the country to visit family or friends.
In terms of monthly breakdown, there were 19,684 females and 40,000 males visiting Kenya in January 2021, 14,397 females and 31,567 males in February, 16, 171 females and 35,880 males in March, 11,521 females and 28,662 males in April, 13,464 females and 32,678 males in May and 20,766 and 40,482 males in June 2021.
The top 10 tourism source markets for Kenya, during the period under review, was led by the USA with 49,178 visitors followed by Tanzania 31,418, Uganda 31,291, China 18,069, UK 16,264, India 11, 950, Rwanda 9,800, Somalia 9, 194, Nigeria 8, 257 and Ethiopia 7,434.
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