Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano has expressed her commitment to addressing one of the tourism sector’s most pressing challenges, access to affordable finance.
Speaking during a breakfast meeting with the Kenya Association of Hotel Keepers and Caterers, Miano said the ministry is moving close the funding gap that has hindered both renovations and new investments in the industry.
“Since the merger of the Tourism Finance Corporation (TFC) into the Kenya Development Corporation (KDC), investors have faced limited borrowing options,” said Miano.
“We are fully aware of this challenge and are acting decisively.”
She stated that the Ministry is engaging KDC through the National Treasury to establish a dedicated funding window for the tourism sector, one that will ideally offer concessionary rates similar to those previously provided by TFC.
This initiative, she said, will provide accessible, affordable capital to tourism stakeholders across the board.
This is in addition to pushing for greater domestic investment to complement foreign direct inflows.
“We see tremendous potential in encouraging more Kenyans to invest in the tourism sector,” Miano stated.
To catalyse this shift, she said the Ministry is exploring innovative financing models, including public-private investment funds and blended finance mechanisms.
“These will prioritise infrastructure development, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the heartbeat of Kenya’s hospitality ecosystem,” Miano said.
At the same time, the CS emphasised Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism as a high-potential area, noting that expansion of the Bomas of Kenya and new convention infrastructure in Mombasa and Kisumu are on the radar.
On the marketing front, she pledged an aggressive global campaign targeting both traditional and emerging markets, backed by new niche offerings like adventure, medical, and cruise tourism.
The Ministry is also banking on a visa-free Africa policy and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to position Kenya as a regional hub.
“We must pitch for major events, refresh itineraries, and embed sustainability into everything we do,” she urged
