Kenyan intends to double the number of tourists visiting the country in 2026 as a way of boosting the economy and creating more jobs for the youth.

While addressing visitors at her rural home, Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife Rebecca Miano said in 2024-2025, the country received over 2.4 million tourists.

Th plan is informed by rising competition in East Africa as Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of the Congo provide alternatives to Kenya’s traditional sun and beach menu, besides wildlife and nature tourism.

Ms Miano noted that the government was planning plans to double the number of the tourists to over 5million in 2026, adding that it was also targeting domestic tourists.

The minister said that this will be achieved through aggressive marketing, diversification (MICE, culture), easier travel (eTA, Open Skies), new airline licenses, and infrastructure upgrades.

The cabinet secretary noted that boosting of tourism sector in the country, is a key enabler in job creation and economic growth.

She had hosted hundreds of local people and distributed Christmas gifts to them at her rural home in Gwa Kihara Village of Ndaragwa Constituency. She appealed Kenyans to continue supporting the government in order to realise meaningful development.

She noted that the government was committed to the improvement of roads infrastructure to ease transport, adding that rural electrification among other projects were underway to help uplift the living standards if local people.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Kimani Tirus