International tourists’ stay in Kenya lengthens as numbers grow

The average length of stay for tourists in Kenya improved slightly from 11.9 days in 2024 from to 12.1 days, sector data shows.

This indicates that tourists are spending more time exploring the country's attractions, where last year, the total number of visitor days spent in Kenya expanded to 18.6 million in 2024, up from 17 million in 2023. 

The tourism sector in Kenya demonstrated robust growth in 2024, cementing its position as one of the key drivers of the economy.

According to the Economic Survey 2025 by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), strategic initiatives undertaken by the government and private sector players led to an increase in international visitor arrivals, hotel occupancy and the average length of stay.

"The concerted efforts made to diversify tourism products, improve connectivity, and enhance the visitor experience are bearing fruit. We are thrilled to see positive indicators across the board, with growth recorded in key segments like Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions tourism," Kenya Tourism Board CEO June Chepkemei said in a statement.

According to the survey, international visitor arrivals through all entry points grew by 14.7 per cent to hit 2.39 million in 2024.

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) registered a 10.1 per cent increase in arrivals to 1.63 million, while Moi International Airport Mombasa saw a 30.6 per cent jump to 204,900 arrivals.

The number of Kenyans departing to visit other countries also rose by five per cent  to 1.42 million.

Chepkemei said that these figures can be attributed to strategic initiatives like the successful launch of the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system, aggressive marketing campaigns and the entry, return of several long-haul carriers.

Digital innovations have also made it easier for tourists to access information and make bookings online.

The Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) segment, identified as a priority area, also posted strong growth.

Data from the Economic Survey indicates that the number of international delegates attending conferences in Kenya rose by 2.3 per cent to 999 in 2024m whereas local conferences increased by 4.7 per cent to 11,225.

Domestic tourism continued its post-pandemic growth with hotel bed-nights occupied by Kenyan residents at coastal properties, a top holiday destination, increasing by 11.8 per cent to 2.5 million.

Overall, Kenyan residents accounted for 4,910,800 hotel bed-nights in 2024, demonstrating the sector's growing resilience through local market development.

Hotel performance indicators showed room for growth, with total bed-nights occupied reaching 10,262,100 out of 35,544,800 available, representing a 28.9 per cent occupancy rate. Peak occupancy was recorded in December 2024 while room occupancy reached its highest point in November 2023.

"We are delighted to see all our collective efforts resulting in an improved tourism performance. As we move forward, we will continue collaborating with stakeholders to ensure Kenya provides a world-class tourism experience to leisure and business travellersInternational tourists," Chepkemei affirmed.