Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Tourism Board, June Chepkemei and EatOut General Manager Lorenzo Lorenze/ CYNDY ALUOCH.The Kenya Tourism Board partnered with food tech platform EatOut Africa in a move aimed at expanding Kenya’s tourism offering to include more structured culinary experiences, as destinations compete for travellers seeking experience driven trips.
The collaboration is expected to integrate food-based experiences into the country’s wider tourism portfolio while also using digital platforms to influence how visitors discover and plan travel activities in Kenya.
The agreement comes amid a global shift in tourism, where travellers are increasingly prioritising local food, culture and immersive experiences over traditional sightseeing packages.
Speaking during the signing in Nairobi, the Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Tourism Board, June Chepkemei, said the sector is responding to changes in traveller behaviour and digital consumption patterns.
She noted that modern tourists are now making decisions long before they arrive in a destination, relying heavily on online content, reviews and comparison platforms.
“This partnership with EatOut Africa is especially important because it responds to how modern travellers actually make decisions today,” she said.
“Today’s visitor does not wait until arrival to decide where to dine or what experiences to enjoy. They research online, they compare reviews and explore digital content before making travel choices.”
The tourism board said the move reflects a broader shift in strategy as Kenya works to diversify its tourism identity beyond wildlife safaris and beach tourism.
Officials said food, culture and wellness are increasingly being incorporated into destination marketing.
Chepkemei said storytelling around food and production will form a key part of this approach, particularly through Kenya’s agricultural exports.
“Modern travellers want more than just a seat at a restaurant; they want to know the story behind their food,” she said.
“Products like tea and coffee are some of Kenya’s most celebrated exports, and this partnership will put them at the forefront of our tourism strategy.”
Under the partnership, the two organisations plan to develop and promote curated culinary experiences, including visits to tea farms and coffee roasteries, cooking classes, and food education sessions led by local chefs focusing on Swahili and contemporary Kenyan cuisine.
Other experiences under consideration include chef’s table dining events, picnics in Nairobi National Park, dhow dinner cruises in Mombasa and guided street food tours in Nairobi.
The EatOut Africa, which operates a digital restaurant discovery and booking platform, said the partnership will extend its focus beyond restaurant listings into broader tourism experiences.
Their General Manager Lorenzo Lorenze said the platform currently connects users to restaurants across Nairobi and has handled millions of dining interactions over time.
“This partnership with the Kenya Tourism Board will allow us to extend our products to operators offering unique culinary experiences while showcasing the very best of Kenya’s growing food scene,” he said.
Globally, culinary tourism has been gaining traction as travellers increasingly seek experiences tied to local identity and culture.
Kenya’s tourism officials said the partnership is intended to position the country within that growing segment, while also expanding visibility for local hospitality operators through digital channels.
The experiences will be accessible through a dedicated platform linked to Magical Kenya’s digital ecosystem, as the sector continues to shift toward online-based travel planning and booking.
