Kenya has recorded a significant increase in the number of international visitors arriving in the country within a span of one year, a report has found.
According to the Economic Survey 2025, the number of international visitors in 2024 increased by 307,607—from 2,086,769 in 2023, representing a 12.8 per cent rise.
“This growth was driven by developments in the aviation sector during 2024, such as the expansion of airline networks,” the report noted.
Monthly international visitor arrivals were recorded through Moi International Airport, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and other border entry points.
In 2024, the majority of visitors arrived through JKIA, totalling 1,627,837, compared to 204,891 through MIA and 561,648 through other border points.
Meanwhile, the number of international visitors arriving through MIA grew by 30.6 per cent, while arrivals through JKIA increased by 10.1 per cent in 2024.
August recorded the highest number of international arrivals in 2024, with 249,086 visitors, while April saw the lowest, with 154,210.
On February 19, 2025, Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano announced that Kenya welcomed 2.4 million international tourists in 2024.
Speaking at the launch of the Annual Tourism Sector Performance Report 2024 and the Report on Sustainability and Impact of Climate Change on the Tourism Sector in Kenya, the CS said the figure represents a 14.6 per cent increase from 2023.
“Inbound tourism earnings rose to Sh452.2 billion in 2024, a 19.79 per cent growth compared to 2023,” she said.
The CS added that the combined visitor numbers for 2024 stood at 7,568,342. “This includes 2.4 million inbound tourists and 5,173,966 domestic tourists,” she pointed out.
Miano noted that the United States remained the largest source market, accounting for 12.8 per cent of total arrivals, followed by Uganda at 9.42 per cent and Tanzania at 8.49 per cent.
