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Kenya Tourism Statistics for November 2026
Kenya recorded 2.55 million international visitor arrivals in 2025, excluding Kenyans, 6.2% more than in 2024 and 25% above 2019. Tourism earnings from international visitors reached KSh 501.3 billion, up 10.55%. A second official count that includes 250,603 members of the Kenyan diaspora gives 2.65 million arrivals; in January–June 2026 arrivals were 7.6% higher than a year earlier.
How many people visit Kenya, where they come from, what they spend and where they go, compiled from the latest official statistics. Full sources are listed at the bottom of the page. Headline numbers are for 2025, the most recent full year, with 2026 year-to-date where available.
Inbound visitors
International visitors to Kenya
Kenya recorded 2,550,641 international visitor arrivals in 2025, the highest number in the series and 6.2% more than the 2.40 million of 2024. That was 25% above the 2.04 million of 2019. Arrivals fell to 579,600 in 2020, during the pandemic. The count is made at airports and other border points and leaves out Kenyan citizens.
View data table
| Period | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 2.04m | pre-pandemic |
| 2020 | 0.58m | pandemic |
| 2021 | 0.87m | pandemic |
| 2022 | 1.54m | |
| 2023 | 2.10m | revised |
| 2024 | 2.40m | |
| 2025 | 2.55m | record · provisional |
In 2025, 1,719,842 arrivals (67.4%) came through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi, 235,184 (9.2%) through Moi International Airport in Mombasa and 595,615 (23.4%) through other border points. A second official count, which includes members of the Kenyan diaspora, gives 2,652,540 international arrivals in 2025 (+7.2%), of whom 250,603 were Kenyans living abroad. 2026 so far: 1,228,344 arrivals in January–June, 7.6% more than in the same months of 2025 (provisional). In the financial year July 2025 to June 2026 there were 2.79 million international arrivals on the diaspora-inclusive basis.
Visitor spending
What international visitors spend
Inbound tourism earnings reached KSh 501.3 billion in 2025 (provisional), 10.55% more than the KSh 453.5 billion of 2024 and more than five times the KSh 88.6 billion of 2020. The measure is spending by international visitors in Kenya. Figures are in nominal shillings and no US dollar figure is shown.
View data table
| Period | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | KSh 88.6bn | pandemic |
| 2021 | KSh 146.5bn | pandemic |
| 2022 | KSh 268.1bn | |
| 2023 | KSh 378.7bn | revised |
| 2024 | KSh 453.5bn | revised |
| 2025 | KSh 501.3bn | provisional |
The balance of payments puts travel receipts at KSh 494.7 billion in 2025 (provisional), up 4.9% on KSh 471.4 billion in 2024. Diaspora remittances were larger, at KSh 661.2 billion. Kenyan residents made 1,539,300 departures abroad in 2025 (+9.8%). Values for 2019 are not shown because earlier releases give two different figures for that year.
Source markets
Where Kenya's visitors come from
The United States was the largest market in 2025 with 304,491 arrivals, 11.5% of the total, followed by the neighbouring countries Uganda (234,552) and Tanzania (209,531). Arrivals from China rose 23.2% and from Italy 19.9%. Bars show 2025 arrivals; the muted figure is the change on 2024.
Markets are by nationality and come from the diaspora-inclusive count of 2,652,540 arrivals; 2025 figures are provisional and 2024 figures revised. By region, Africa supplied 997,188 arrivals (37.59%), Europe 678,419 (25.58%), the Americas 14.01% and Asia 10.65%. Most Italian visitors (77,251) entered through Moi International Airport in Mombasa. No 2024 figure was published for Somalia.
Why they come
Purpose of visit
Holidays were the main purpose of visit for 47.8% of international arrivals in 2025, up from 44.1% in 2024. Holiday arrivals rose 15.0% to 1.22 million. Business travel made up 25.2% and transit 3.3%.
- Holiday 48%
- Business 25%
- Transit 3%
- Other, incl. friends and relatives 24%
Shares are for 2025, based on 2,550,600 arrivals excluding Kenyans (provisional). "Other" covers visits to friends and relatives, study, medical, religious, volunteer and sports travel and purposes not stated. Visitors on holiday, business or transit stayed 12.1 days on average, the same as in 2024.
Seasonality
When they visit
July and August are the peak months. August 2025 was the busiest month with 277,155 international arrivals, 10.9% of the year, followed by July with 257,044. March was the quietest with 169,178, closely followed by April.
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| Jan | 218k |
| Feb | 200k |
| Mar | 169k |
| Apr | 170k |
| May | 172k |
| Jun | 212k |
| Jul | 257k |
| Aug | 277k |
| Sep | 214k |
| Oct | 220k |
| Nov | 202k |
| Dec | 238k |
Monthly international visitor arrivals in 2025, excluding Kenyans (provisional); they add up to the annual 2,550,641. January 2026 brought 244,005 arrivals, 11.8% more than January 2025 (provisional).
Attractions
Most visited national parks and reserves
Nairobi National Park had 459,900 visitors in 2025, more than any other park or reserve, followed by the Nairobi animal orphanage (438,900) and the Impala Sanctuary in Kisumu (369,400). Amboseli had 295,900 visitors (+11.2%). The Maasai Mara recorded 213,300, down from 343,100 in 2024.
Visitors in 2025 (provisional), counted at park gates and including Kenyan citizens, residents and children. The 3,954,500 visitors to all parks and reserves were 2,561,300 Kenyan citizens (+9.9%), 221,600 resident foreigners and 1,171,600 non-resident foreigners. Museums, snake parks and historical sites had 1,110,800 visitors (-3.6%), led by the Nairobi National Museum and Snake Park (416,100) and Fort Jesus in Mombasa (248,000).
Accommodation
Hotels & occupancy
Hotels, lodges and other rooming houses recorded 11.6 million bed-nights in 2025 (provisional), 12.6% more than in 2024. Kenyan residents accounted for 5.20 million (45.0%) and guests living in Europe for 3.37 million (+42.7%). The bed occupancy rate was 29.3%, up from 28.9%. Hotels within 1 km of the coast had 4.94 million bed-nights, the most of any zone.
Economic impact
Tourism in Kenya's economy
Accommodation and food service activities produced KSh 303.7 billion of GDP in 2025 at current prices (provisional), 1.7% of the economy, and grew 15.6% in real terms. Travel receipts in the balance of payments were KSh 494.7 billion. Kenya hosted 998 international conferences with 38,705 delegates in 2025.
Local conferences rose to 12,671 in 2025, with 758,278 delegates (+8.4%). Game lodges inside national parks and reserves recorded 1,036,000 bed-nights, down from 1,116,200 in 2024. Cruise ship arrivals fell to 4,197 in 2025 from 6,561 in 2024. Accommodation and food services are a wider measure than tourism and include spending by residents.
At a glance
Fast facts
- 67.4% Share of arrivals through JKIA, Nairobi (2025)
- 304,491 Arrivals from the United States, the top market (2025)
- 250,603 Arrivals by members of the Kenyan diaspora (2025)
- 12.1 days Average stay of holiday, business and transit visitors (2025)
- 2.79m International arrivals, July 2025 to June 2026
- 1,171,600 Non-resident foreign visitors to parks and reserves (2025)
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How many tourists visit Kenya each year?
Kenya recorded 2.55 million international visitor arrivals in 2025 (provisional), excluding Kenyans, 6.2% more than the 2.40 million of 2024 and 25% above 2019. A second official count that includes 250,603 members of the Kenyan diaspora gives 2.65 million. In January–June 2026 there were 1.23 million arrivals, 7.6% more than a year earlier.
How much do tourists spend in Kenya?
Inbound tourism earnings were KSh 501.3 billion in 2025 (provisional), up 10.55% from KSh 453.5 billion in 2024. The balance of payments gives travel receipts of KSh 494.7 billion for the same year, up 4.9%.
Which country sends the most tourists to Kenya?
The United States, with 304,491 arrivals in 2025 (up 3.8%), ahead of Uganda (234,552) and Tanzania (209,531). The United Kingdom was the largest European market with 170,936 arrivals. Africa as a whole supplied 37.59% of arrivals.
How many people visit the Maasai Mara each year?
The Maasai Mara National Reserve recorded 213,300 visitors in 2025 (provisional), down from 343,100 in 2024 and 420,100 in 2023. Nairobi National Park was the most visited park in 2025 with 459,900 visitors, and all parks and reserves together had 3.95 million.
When is the best time of year to visit Kenya, by visitor numbers?
July and August are the busiest months. August 2025 had 277,155 international arrivals and July 257,044, against 169,178 in March, the quietest month. Arrivals also rise in December and January.
Using these figures?
Cite this page
Journalists, researchers and bloggers are welcome to use the statistics on this page. Please credit Kenya Tourism Statistics and link to this page.
Kenya Tourism Statistics (2026). Visitors, spending and trends. Last reviewed 2 November 2026. https://www.globaltourismstatistics.com/kenya
<a href="https://www.globaltourismstatistics.com/kenya">Kenya Tourism Statistics</a> Notes & sources
Methodology & sources
This page compiles publicly available official statistics, mainly from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), the Tourism Research Institute (TRI) and the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife; the sources for every figure are listed below. Caveats:
- The 2025 figures come from the KNBS Economic Survey 2026 (published April 2026) and the TRI Annual Tourism Sector Performance Report 2025, and are provisional. The 2026 monthly arrivals (January–June) come from the KNBS Leading Economic Indicators for August 2026, published in October 2026, and are provisional; July and August 2026 were not yet available. The 2.79 million arrivals for July 2025 to June 2026 come from the ministry's August 2026 sub-sector budget report. That report gives tourism earnings for the same financial year as KSh 564 billion in three places and KSh 654 billion in one, so no 2025/26 earnings figure is shown.
- Both counts come from Directorate of Immigration Services records. The KNBS series (2,550,641 in 2025) covers international visitor arrivals and excludes Kenyans; it is used for the headline, the trend, purpose of visit and seasonality. The TRI count (2,652,540 in 2025, 2,474,551 in 2024 and 2,138,649 in 2023) is described as international tourist arrivals and includes 250,603 members of the Kenyan diaspora in 2025. The two series differ by more than the diaspora figure, and the reports do not explain the gap. Market figures are by nationality and come from the TRI count. The TRI report gives Tanzania as 209,531 in its text and tables 3 and 5 and as 209,536 in figure 3 and table 6; 209,531 is used.
- Inbound tourism earnings are compiled by TRI. The 2023–2025 values are from the 2025 report, which revised 2023 to KSh 378.70 billion (from 377.49) and 2024 to KSh 453.50 billion (from 452.20). The 2020–2022 values are from the 2024 report. The 2024 report gives KSh 296.2 billion for 2019, while the 2019 report gave KSh 163.56 billion, so 2019 is left out. Travel receipts of KSh 494.7 billion are the balance-of-payments travel credit in the Economic Survey. Figures are nominal.
- Bed-nights cover hotels, lodges and other rooming houses in the KNBS hotel survey; the occupancy rate is bed-nights occupied as a share of bed-nights available (39.45 million in 2025). The Economic Survey text says the rate "declined" to 29.3% from 28.9%; the table shows a rise, and the table is used. The TRI report quotes an earlier total of 11,200,390 bed-nights for 2025. Its figure of about 5.2 million for domestic tourism, sometimes reported as domestic visitors, is the number of hotel bed-nights by Kenyan residents and is not a count of trips; no official count of domestic trips was found.
- Park and reserve visitors come from the Kenya Wildlife Service and the Narok, Baringo and Samburu county governments, as compiled in the Economic Survey (tables 12.11 and 12.12). The Maasai Mara is run by Narok County. The TRI report also prints KWS park counts (3,543,553 visitors in 2025), but its two park tables use different row labels for the same figures, so they are not used. Museum visitors are from the National Museums of Kenya and county governments.
- No tourism satellite account share of GDP for 2025, no tourism employment total and no US dollar earnings figure were available from sources that could be opened, so those items are omitted. Accommodation and food services GDP is shown as the nearest official measure.
Primary sources
- Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS): Economic Survey 2026 : Chapter 12, tourism: international visitor arrivals by month, entry point and purpose 2021–2025 (tables 12.1 and 12.2), visitor-days (12.5), hotel bed-nights (12.7–12.10), visitors to national parks and reserves (12.11–12.12), museums (12.13) and conferences (12.14); 2025 provisional; published April 2026.
- Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS): Economic Survey 2026, balance of payments and GDP : Travel credits and diaspora remittances 2021–2025 (table 6.16) and accommodation and food service activities in GDP (tables 2.1, 2.2 and 2.4); 2025 provisional; published April 2026.
- Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS): Economic Survey 2021 : International visitor arrivals by purpose of visit 2016–2020 (table 12.1): 2,035.4 thousand in 2019 and 579.6 thousand in 2020.
- Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS): Leading Economic Indicators, August 2026 : Visitor arrivals through JKIA, MIA and other borders by month, January 2024 to June 2026 (table 18), excluding Kenyans; 2026 provisional; published October 2026.
- Tourism Research Institute: Annual Tourism Sector Performance Report 2025 : International arrivals including the Kenyan diaspora (2,652,540), arrivals by nationality and entry point, cruise arrivals and inbound tourism earnings 2023–2025 (KSh 501.34bn); 2025 provisional; published 2026.
- Tourism Research Institute: Tourism Sector Performance Report 2024 : Inbound tourism earnings 2019–2024 (figure 13), used for 2020–2022.
- Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife: Tourism sub-sector report, MTEF 2027/28–2029/30 : Sector budget review of August 2026 giving international arrivals and tourism earnings for the financial years 2023/24 to 2025/26 (July to June).