BY MARTIN MWITA
December 12, 2015
TOURIST
arrivals dropped by 13.7 per cent in the ten-month period to October
compared with the same period last year as the key foreign-exchange
continues to recover from effects of perceived insecurity since 2011.
Kenya Tourism Board data seen by the Star shows consolidated arrivals were 628,345 down from 728,128 in 2014.
Arrivals thropugh the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport reduced from 626,693 in 2014 to 569,152 in 2015, a 9.2 per cent drop.
Mombasa suffered the most with international arrivals between January and October through the Moi International Airport dropping by 41.1 per cent to 59,194 from 101,073 last year.
“[The year] 2015 has been a bad year for us especially the first half,” Kenya Coast Tourist Association Chairman Mohamed Hersi told the Star on phone. “The second half started off well and we are hoping for a good 2016.”
The UK, the US, India, United Arab Emirates and Germany were the top five market sources in the review period.
Arrivals from UK, the leading source market with 13.4 share, declined by 14.5 per cent from 98,706 last year to 84,423.
Visitors from the US dropped from 81,177 to 70,734 , a 12.9 per cent decline.
The Italian market, which mainly serves the North Coast of Malindi and Watamu, dropped by 40.6 per cent to 25,409 from 42,810.
The UAE, however, recorded an 82.1 per cent increase from 20,712 to 37,722.
The African market also showed resilience with improved numbers from West Africa.
Guests from Africa's largest economy Nigeria increased to 11,322 from 11,004 last year while Ghana's rose to 5,024 from 4,785.
South Africa, however, remained the leading African source market by volumes, with arrivals climbing by 21.3 per cent from 21,279 in 2014 to 25,819.
Uganda was second with 24,420 visitors despite a 6.7 per cent drop from last year’s 26,166 while Tanzania was third with 15,185.
Tourism players remain confident the industry will recover, with increased government attention after President Uhuru Kenyatta hived off the tourism docket from the larger East Africa, Commerce and Tourism ministry.
The Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers on Friday reiterated the lifting of travel advisories by key markets of UK and US, will also boost recovery.
“We are on a good path to recovery,” KAHC CEO for Coast region Sam Ikwaye said.
Last year, tourism earnings dropped by 7.3 per cent to Sh87.1 billion from Sh94 billion in 2013, according to the Economic Survey 2015.
Total arrivals last year were 861,758, a drop from 1.09 million in 2013 and 1.23 million arrivals in 2012
Kenya Tourism Board data seen by the Star shows consolidated arrivals were 628,345 down from 728,128 in 2014.
Arrivals thropugh the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport reduced from 626,693 in 2014 to 569,152 in 2015, a 9.2 per cent drop.
Mombasa suffered the most with international arrivals between January and October through the Moi International Airport dropping by 41.1 per cent to 59,194 from 101,073 last year.
“[The year] 2015 has been a bad year for us especially the first half,” Kenya Coast Tourist Association Chairman Mohamed Hersi told the Star on phone. “The second half started off well and we are hoping for a good 2016.”
The UK, the US, India, United Arab Emirates and Germany were the top five market sources in the review period.
Arrivals from UK, the leading source market with 13.4 share, declined by 14.5 per cent from 98,706 last year to 84,423.
Visitors from the US dropped from 81,177 to 70,734 , a 12.9 per cent decline.
The Italian market, which mainly serves the North Coast of Malindi and Watamu, dropped by 40.6 per cent to 25,409 from 42,810.
The UAE, however, recorded an 82.1 per cent increase from 20,712 to 37,722.
The African market also showed resilience with improved numbers from West Africa.
Guests from Africa's largest economy Nigeria increased to 11,322 from 11,004 last year while Ghana's rose to 5,024 from 4,785.
South Africa, however, remained the leading African source market by volumes, with arrivals climbing by 21.3 per cent from 21,279 in 2014 to 25,819.
Uganda was second with 24,420 visitors despite a 6.7 per cent drop from last year’s 26,166 while Tanzania was third with 15,185.
Tourism players remain confident the industry will recover, with increased government attention after President Uhuru Kenyatta hived off the tourism docket from the larger East Africa, Commerce and Tourism ministry.
The Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers on Friday reiterated the lifting of travel advisories by key markets of UK and US, will also boost recovery.
“We are on a good path to recovery,” KAHC CEO for Coast region Sam Ikwaye said.
Last year, tourism earnings dropped by 7.3 per cent to Sh87.1 billion from Sh94 billion in 2013, according to the Economic Survey 2015.
Total arrivals last year were 861,758, a drop from 1.09 million in 2013 and 1.23 million arrivals in 2012
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