new minister of tourism kenya

Alfred Mutua Appointed as Kenya’s New Minister of Tourism

11 October 2023

Erstwhile Foreign minister Alfred Mutua has been appointed as the new Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Tourism, Wildlife & Heritage. Last Wednesday 4 October 2023, Kenya ‘s President William Ruto reshuffled eight members of his cabinet, and folded the foreign affairs ministry into the office of the chief minister. The changes, according to Reuters , were necessary to “optimise performance and enhance delivery as set out in the administration’s manifesto.” President Ruto said.

Hon. Peninah Malonza who was the former Cabinet Secretary for Tourism, Wildlife & Heritage, has now assumed the role of Cabinet Secretary for the East African Community, the ASALs & Regional Development ministry, following the cabinet reshuffle by President William Ruto.

Meanwhile, the new CS for Tourism, Wildlife & Heritage, Alfred Mutua posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle , his remark during the official handover process. The remark is available below:

MY REMARKS DURING THE OFFICIAL HANDING OVER PROCESS HELD AT THE MINISTRY OF TOURISM AND WILDLIFE OFFICE

I am honored and delighted to assume my new assignment as Minister of Tourism and Wildlife. I feel greatly energized and motivated in this new capacity and engagement to deliver on the Kenya Kwanza agenda of improving the lives of Kenyans.

Secondly, I would like to thank and commend my sister and colleague, CS Hon. Peninah Malonza, for the commendable job she has done in the Ministry and the warm welcome she has accorded me. I will be building on her success as we chart new pathways to promote tourism locally and globally. Also, I wish to thank the two PS’s Mr. John Ololtuaa and Ms. Silvia Museiya for their hard work and determination, and the diligent and committed workforce in the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife.

Our young men and women need jobs now more than ever before in the face of global economic slump. We need to re-engineer our Ministry to focus on job creation now, not tomorrow. The tourism and wildlife sector can create many job opportunities.

Innovative ideas from all stakeholders are key to unlocking the great potential in our Ministry. We welcome all ideas that will help us improve the quality of life for common mwananchi. In this regard, I will be holding consultative meetings with all stakeholders starting from Monday next week. I will meet with all parastatal boards and all stakeholders. For stakeholders, please meet and prepare memorandum for me on how to build this sector with ideas that are out of the box solutions. We will work as partners to inject a new life to the sectors.

The bottom-up model requires that we imagine and implement projects with the common mwananchi as the cornerstone. I will work with all stakeholders in order to deliver on job and wealth creation for our beloved country.

Our ministry will strive to be the top foreign exchange earner. To this end, we will revamp and beef up all forms of tourism: medical tourism, sports tourism, etc.

We will explore and create new tourist attractions and pathways for domestic and international tourists. 8. We will re-examine and redesign the entire tourism ecosystem in Kenya with a view to improving the flow of tourists.

I will enjoin the County governments in identifying and implementing strategic plans in order to promote our mission of creating jobs.

To be effective within a short time, as you know am ChapChap, we will need to think exponentially, and not in a linear fashion. We need new ideas that catapult us to a high level, very quickly. Our people are hungry. We do not have the luxury of time.

We are going to push for domestic tourism and shopping, medical and relaxion tourism for Africans: our fellow Africans do not need to go to the Middle East, Europe or Asia for shopping. They can come to Kenya for the same services.

Finally, I am a team player and I hope to put up a winning team to deliver jobs and opportunities for business to my people of Kenya.

Mbele iko sawa!

Dr. alfred n. mutua, egh, cabinet secretary – tourism and wildlife., october, 11th, 2023., subscribe to our newsletter.

You’ve been successfully subscribed to our newsletter!

President Ruto names Kenya’s New Tourism Minister

• Story By: Kojo Bentum Williams

• Published: 8:41 AM UTC, Wed September 28, 2022

The President of Kenya Dr. William Ruto has nominated former Kitui Deputy Governor Peninah Malonza as the Cabinet Secretary for the expanded portfolio of Tourism, Wildlife, and Heritage.

The President after his meeting with the outgoing cabinet of Uhuru Kenyatta announced a twenty three member team which will form his government.

Peninah Malonza will be taking over from veteran minister Najib Balala if she secures confirmation from the vetting and appointment committee.

Ms. Malonza, a former senior executive with Compassion International – a non-governmental organisation, is best known for the five years she served as Deputy Governor between 2013 and 2017 and the acrimonious falling out with her boss-Governor Julius Malombe.

In an interesting political twist, Ms Malonza was named by former Kitui Senator David Musila as his running mate, while still serving under Governor Malombe, and campaigned hard to send her boss home in the 2017 General Election. Both Mr. Malombe and Mr. Musila lost the elections.

She will be tasked with steering the recovery of the tourism industry which was battered by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Related Posts

Centenary Bank & Ministry of Tourism partner to boost Malawi’s economy

In a move aimed at growing and promoting the tourism industry in Malawi and beyond, the Ministry of Tourism and Centenary Bank Limited have entered into an agreement to work

Plans in the offing to bring back Scandinavian tourists- Gambia’s Tourism Minister

The Minister of Tourism and Culture, Abdoulie Jobe, has revealed that plans are afoot to attract Scandinavian tourists (Sweden and Demark), to destination Gambia once again, following a considerable spell

Nabeela Farida Tunis writes: Be a part of our Gateway to Freedom and Liberation this April

As we step into the fourth month of our year-long Tourism for All Campaign, join us in commemorating Sierra Leone’s profound historical legacy with our theme for April: Gateway to

VoyagesAfriq is Africa’s No 1 Travel & Tourism Media & News publication with specialist interests in presenting the continent's travel & tourism to a Global Audience. VA provides superior News content about Travel and Tourism in Africa & beyond. Our specialist team of writers and editors ensure the African travel story is told with a global perspective.

WhatsApp: +33744287093

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This article is free to read if you register or sign in.

Simply register at no cost.

Questions or problems? Email [email protected] or call 0711 046 000 .

How President Ruto has renamed five ministries

The president has reshuffled 8 cabinet secretaries and 8 pss..

In the renaming of the ministries, the portfolio of the office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary has been expanded to include the ministry of foreign and diaspora affairs.

The Ministry of Public Service Gender and Affirmative Action has been reconstituted and renamed as the Ministry of Public Service Performance and Delivery Management.

President William Ruto on Wednesday renamed five of his ministries even as he initiated a cabinet reshuffle.

The Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage has been reconstituted and renamed as as Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife.

The Ministry of Youth Affairs, Arts and Sports has been reconstituted and renamed as the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

A new ministerial portfolio has been established as the Ministry of Gender, Culture, the Arts and Heritage.

The State Department for Culture and Heritage has been renamed as the State Department for Culture, the Arts and Heritage and vested in the Ministry of Gender, culture, the Arts and Heritage.

The changes take effect immediately.

Ruto redeploys ambassadors and high commissioners

Full list of reshuffled cabinet secretaries, isaac mwaura appointed government spokesperson, most popular, state to build eight markets in narok for sh1.3 billion, joy for murang'a farmers as e-voucher to pay fees, buy ..., calls to revive war on drugs as muslims celebrate idd, 12% of maize damage by armyworms linked to climate change, politician's popularity rattles rivals eying governor seat, latest videos, the news brief: how school buses will change under strict ntsa rules, kobura residents appeal for help as floods leave 300 people in limbo, sign up for the free star email newsletter and receive the latest kenya news daily..

Kenyan tourism begins recovery from pandemic slump as locals fuel travel

• Medium Text

The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter provides all the news you need to start your day. Sign up here.

Additional reporting and writing by Duncan Miriri; Editing by Jan Harvey

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. New Tab , opens new tab

Thomson Reuters

Covers economic, political and general breaking news. George has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics.

World Chevron

US envoy asked Middle East foreign ministers to mediate with Iran

The U.S. Middle East envoy called the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar and Iraq to ask them to deliver a message to Iran urging it to lower tensions with Israel following a suspected Israeli air strike on Iran's embassy in Syria, a source with knowledge of the situation said.

The Philippines is eyeing around $100 billion in investment deals in the next five to 10 years from the country's trilateral summit with the United States and Japan, the presidential office said in a statement, quoting its ambassador to Washington.

• Switch skin

Alfred Mutua Appointed as Kenya’s New Minister of Tourism

11 October 2023

Erstwhile Foreign minister Alfred Mutua has been appointed as the new Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Tourism, Wildlife & Heritage. Last Wednesday 4 October 2023, Kenya‘s President William Ruto reshuffled eight members of his cabinet, and folded the foreign affairs ministry into the office of the chief minister. The changes, according to Reuters, were necessary to “optimise performance and enhance delivery as set out in the administration’s manifesto.” President Ruto said.

Hon. Peninah Malonza who was the former Cabinet Secretary for Tourism, Wildlife & Heritage, has now assumed the role of Cabinet Secretary for the East African Community, the ASALs & Regional Development ministry, following the cabinet reshuffle by President William Ruto.

Meanwhile, the new CS for Tourism, Wildlife & Heritage, Alfred Mutua posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, his remark during the official handover process. The remark is available below:

MY REMARKS DURING THE OFFICIAL HANDING OVER PROCESS HELD AT THE MINISTRY OF TOURISM AND WILDLIFE OFFICE

I am honored and delighted to assume my new assignment as Minister of Tourism and Wildlife. I feel greatly energized and motivated in this new capacity and engagement to deliver on the Kenya Kwanza agenda of improving the lives of Kenyans.

Secondly, I would like to thank and commend my sister and colleague, CS Hon. Peninah Malonza, for the commendable job she has done in the Ministry and the warm welcome she has accorded me. I will be building on her success as we chart new pathways to promote tourism locally and globally. Also, I wish to thank the two PS’s Mr. John Ololtuaa and Ms. Silvia Museiya for their hard work and determination, and the diligent and committed workforce in the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife.

Our young men and women need jobs now more than ever before in the face of global economic slump. We need to re-engineer our Ministry to focus on job creation now, not tomorrow. The tourism and wildlife sector can create many job opportunities.

Innovative ideas from all stakeholders are key to unlocking the great potential in our Ministry. We welcome all ideas that will help us improve the quality of life for common mwananchi. In this regard, I will be holding consultative meetings with all stakeholders starting from Monday next week. I will meet with all parastatal boards and all stakeholders. For stakeholders, please meet and prepare memorandum for me on how to build this sector with ideas that are out of the box solutions. We will work as partners to inject a new life to the sectors.

The bottom-up model requires that we imagine and implement projects with the common mwananchi as the cornerstone. I will work with all stakeholders in order to deliver on job and wealth creation for our beloved country.

Our ministry will strive to be the top foreign exchange earner. To this end, we will revamp and beef up all forms of tourism: medical tourism, sports tourism, etc.

We will explore and create new tourist attractions and pathways for domestic and international tourists. 8. We will re-examine and redesign the entire tourism ecosystem in Kenya with a view to improving the flow of tourists.

I will enjoin the County governments in identifying and implementing strategic plans in order to promote our mission of creating jobs.

To be effective within a short time, as you know am ChapChap, we will need to think exponentially, and not in a linear fashion. We need new ideas that catapult us to a high level, very quickly. Our people are hungry. We do not have the luxury of time.

We are going to push for domestic tourism and shopping, medical and relaxion tourism for Africans: our fellow Africans do not need to go to the Middle East, Europe or Asia for shopping. They can come to Kenya for the same services.

Finally, I am a team player and I hope to put up a winning team to deliver jobs and opportunities for business to my people of Kenya.

Mbele iko sawa!

Dr. alfred n. mutua, egh, cabinet secretary – tourism and wildlife., october, 11th, 2023..

Source: PTP NEWS

𝑫𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒂 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐𝒍𝒅? 𝐷𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑜𝑓 𝑎 𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑤𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑢𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑔𝑒𝑡 𝑜𝑢𝑟 ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑠 𝑜𝑛? 𝑬𝒎𝒂𝒊𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒏𝒆𝒘𝒔 𝑻𝑰𝑷𝑺 𝒕𝒐 𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒐@𝒑𝒕𝒑𝒏𝒆𝒘𝒔.𝒄𝒐.𝒌𝒆 𝒐𝒓 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒔𝑨𝒑𝒑 +254714235455

𝑭𝑨𝑪𝑬𝑩𝑶𝑶𝑲:- www.facebook.com/ptpnews 𝑰𝑵𝑺𝑻𝑨𝑮𝑹𝑨𝑴:- www.facebook.com/ptpstudios 𝒀𝑶𝑼𝑻𝑼𝑩𝑬:- www.youtube.com/@ptpstudios 𝑾𝑬𝑩𝑺𝑰𝑻𝑬:- www.ptpstudios.com

Why Azimio rejected Aisha Jumwa’s appointment

Kenya ministers: meet new cabinet nominees president william ruto appoint, subscribe to our mailing list to get the new updates.

NO. 1 News Platform.

Dr. Alfred N. Mutua, EGH – FOREIGN & DIASPORA AFFAIRS

Create your free business plan, related articles.

YouTube deletes disgraced Pastor TB Joshua’s official channel – PTP NEWS

Reasons why Eve Mungai broke up with Director Trevor

Davis Chirchir: The Powerful Man Who Has Worked For Moi,Biography,Age

The Man Behind Ruto’s State House Ambitions

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Don't have an account?

Adblock Detected

Why Kenya’s new wildlife task force is a step in the right direction

Lecturer in Global Studies, Middle Tennessee State University

Disclosure statement

Jeremiah Ogonda Asaka does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

View all partners

Loss of biodiversity is one of the major global concerns of our time. According to four recently released scientific reports biodiversity – the essential variety of life forms on Earth – is declining in every region of the world.

Kenya is one of the countries grappling with this problem. Over the past 30 years wildlife tourism has been a major way in which Kenyans have “used” their wildlife to fund conservation and development. But while tourism contributes significantly to the country’s economy, communities who share their lands with wildlife continue to live in poverty . They also bear the brunt of human-wildlife conflict including the loss of life, injuries from attacks and loss of property.

It’s against this backdrop that Kenya’s Minister for Tourism and Wildlife recently established a task force to look into how wildlife can be used in a way that works for both people and wildlife.

The task force will, among other things, evaluate options like game farming and game ranching in community and private lands. It will also evaluate how these approaches could contribute to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP), food security, job creation and livelihood support, with a view of creating co-existence between communities and wildlife.

In a significant deviation from past practice, Kenya’s current wildlife law places wildlife conservation on equal footing with other land use types, like crop and livestock farming. This means it provides for both consumptive and non-consumptive use rights.

Consumptive uses are generally considered to be those in which wildlife is killed for commercial use and sale or for food. An example is the slaughter and sale of game meat at local restaurants. Following concerns from conservation circles, however, the government announced that it doesn’t intend to reintroduce game hunting in Kenya.

Non-consumptive use generally refers to the wildlife being watched, studied or recorded. Examples include tourism or the production and sale of wildlife documentaries.

The task force could change conservation strategies in Kenya for the better. It promises the involvement of all stakeholders – including communities that live with wildlife – in deciding how wildlife can be used. About 65% of Kenya’s wildlife lives in community and private lands yet, historically, the involvement of communities has been limited . This is especially true when it comes to making decisions on wildlife. When they are included it has largely been representational and top-down.

Community voice

Wildlife conservation in Kenya is currently based on a variety of conservation models which involve the state, non-state actors and in some cases a mix of both. The models include, but are not limited to, state run national parks and reserves, community conservancies and privately owned wildlife ranches or conservancies.

Most of these conservation models draw revenue from tourism. However, community conservancies in Kenya are largely donor funded . This puts their sustainability into question.

Private ranches are privately run while national parks are run by the state. Communities have no authority to make decisions in either model.

In the case of community oriented conservation, there are at least 119 conservancies – comprising community, group and private conservancies – in Kenya. While some of these have benefits for communities, like rent payments for use of their land, research shows that patronage is a real concern. Though they are intended to decentralise decision making, reforms often occur only on paper and instead the top-down approach to conservation remains dominant. This undercuts the very essence of community participation.

And yet communities who live with wildlife face continuous threats to their lives, property and livelihoods. If they incur losses to wildlife they are rarely compensated by the government. It’s obvious that they should play a key role when it comes to decisions on wildlife and conservation.

Task force opportunities

The establishment of the task force could make this happen. It provides Kenyans with an important opportunity to take part in making decisions about the country’s conservation policies.

For better results, I would advise against representational participation in which representatives of communities are chosen and transported to a city hotel and community views solicited from them by experts. Instead, there should be direct participation and engagement with community members through interviews or focus group discussions held at the grassroots level. This would afford communities a fair shot at genuinely participating in the process of making decisions about what works for them and the wildlife.

This approach could also create jobs, for example field assistants or translator positions, for young and educated members of the respective communities. These would be a great benefit, even if the jobs are short-term because the task force won’t be in place forever.

At a higher level, the task force offers Kenyans the opportunity to have a national conversation about how to make wildlife conservation work for both people and wildlife. Significantly, it offers Kenyans a chance to engage in what I consider a difficult but long overdue conversation.

Across the world, getting the conservation development balance right is still largely a work in progress . Ultimately, the best way to rein in biodiversity loss is to make conservation work for both people and wildlife. Kenya’s new wildlife task force is a step in the right direction.

• Conservation
• Biodiversity
• Pastoralist communities

Scholarships Manager

Audience Development Coordinator (fixed-term maternity cover)

Lecturer (Hindi-Urdu)

Director, Defence and Security

Opportunities with the new CIEHF

• Africa Collective

Business Insider Edition

• United States
• International
• Deutschland & Österreich
• South Africa

No need to travel abroad as Kenya launches new initiatives to attract tourists

The Kenyan government has launched a groundbreaking initiative known as the "West Africa Roadshow", which aims to promote the richness and diversity of the country's travel destinations following a significant change in its visa policy .

• The Kenyan government has launched the "West Africa Roadshow" to promote the richness and diversity of the country's travel destinations.
• The Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) revealed that its target is boosting tourist arrivals from West Africa by promoting business and leisure travel.
• KTB and Kenya Airways are leading over 15 travel trade companies for in-market activations scheduled for Feb. 5-9 in various cities of Nigeria and Ghana.

Recommended articles

As part of this visionary endeavour, the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB), the country's marketing agency, revealed that its target is boosting tourist arrivals from West Africa by promoting business and leisure travel.

Acting KTB Chief Executive Officer John Chirchir emphasised the significance of this "West Africa Roadshow" program during a meeting marking the beginning of a series of roadshows in Nigeria and Ghana.

Chirchir highlighted the integral role of the West African market in the strategy to attract tourists, with Nigeria (6%) and Ghana (48%) showing the biggest improvements among Kenya's potential markets in tourist arrivals in 2023.

With ambitious aspirations, KTB and Kenya Airways are leading over 15 travel trade companies for in-market activations scheduled for Feb. 5-9 in various cities of Nigeria and Ghana, expecting to attract over 400 trade partners.

Chirchir also expressed optimism that the Kenyan traders would engage in business meetings and direct interactions with potential travellers from Lagos, Abuja and Accra.

He noted that regular flights between African cities , ease in travel restrictions, and the Electronic Travel Authorization will make it easier for visitors to access Kenya.

Speaking passionately during the meeting, Consaga Khisa, chairperson of the West Africa Roadshow, underscored the rationale behind prioritising domestic travel and the importance of partnerships between KTB and the private sector in improving tourism arrivals in Kenya.

"The roadshows will provide an opportunity for the Kenyan trade to engage with about 400 West African travel agents and tour operators, showcase products and service offerings, and forge new partnerships to drive growth," Khisa said.

Reports from Kenya's Tourism Research Institute showed that arrivals from Africa accounted for 651,152 visitors, or 40.7 per cent, of total arrivals from January to October 2023. In the competitive landscape of African tourism, neighbouring countries like Rwanda, Benin, The Gambia, and Seychelles have eliminated all visa requirements for African travellers to attract visitors.

FOLLOW BUSINESS INSIDER AFRICA

Thanks for signing up for our daily insight on the African economy. We bring you daily editor picks from the best Business Insider news content so you can stay updated on the latest topics and conversations on the African market, leaders, careers and lifestyle. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected!

How the May 2018 SCOTUS decision changed the gambling world

The finest mobile esports games of 2024, netflix co-founder and ex-alphabet ceo invest in african solar irrigation startup, the kenyan shilling has been ranked as the best-performing currency in sub-saharan africa: world bank, medic west africa 2024: a catalyst for progress in west african healthcare, medic west africa: a platform for progress - advancing healthcare in nigeria through technology, algeria’s unease with morocco prompts visit to kenya, african countries where drought has been declared a disaster, resource-poor african countries set to outperform resource-rich nations.

Navigating opportunities: Doing Business in Nigeria Conference 2024

Best Monero casino: Top new XMR casinos reviewed in 2024

The surge of African investment in UK real estate: Exploring the motives

5 largest airlines in africa by fleet size in 2024.

• Celebrities
• Beauty & Health
• Food, Travel, Arts & Culture
• International
• Pulse Influencer Awards

Government takes action in response to Airbnb-linked deaths [New regulations & penalties]

Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife introduces new stringent measures to boost safety in short-stay accommodations

In the first two weeks of the new year, two deaths have been reported in alleged Airbnbs in Nairobi, sparking concerns among Kenyans about the safety of short-stay accommodations.

Recommended articles

While Airbnb has dismissed any connection to the incidents, citizens have taken to social media to express their worries, prompting the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife to issue a statement addressing the issue.

Ministry's concerns and commitment to safety

Expressing great concern over the recent criminal incidents in the short-stay accommodation sector, the Ministry through a statement posted on X by Alfred Mutua on January 16, emphasised the government's commitment to ensuring the well-being and safety of all stakeholders.

The Ministry, acting as the key regulator of Kenya's tourism sector through the Tourism Regulatory Authority, reaffirmed its responsibilities in registering, licensing, and grading sustainable tourism activities, including services provided by cottages and private residences engaged in guest house services.

Legal framework and enforcement

The statement highlighted the Ministry's dedication to formulating regulations, standards, and guidelines crucial for quality service delivery in the tourism sector. Citing Section 7 of the Tourism Act No.28 of 2011, the Ministry stressed its commitment to enforcing compliance with TRA licensing laws.

It assured the public that hospitality services in Kenya are generally safe but urged citizens to verify the registration and license status of facilities to ensure compliance with government directives and maintain quality standards.

Legal consequences for violations

To uphold the integrity of the tourism industry, the Ministry, through the Tourism Regulatory Authority, pledged rigorous enforcement of compliance and legal action against any violations of TRA licensing laws.

Late renewals of licenses will be subject to penalties and other consequences stipulated by law.

The revised regulations will undergo a public participation exercise, inviting input from tourism and hospitality stakeholders.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected!

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: [email protected]

Standard Group gives detailed response to reports of STD breakout in news room

DP Gachagua woos Diaspora Community with Ruto's achievements & investment opportunities

Several feared dead in tragic accident involving Kensilver bus at Nithi bridge

Family matters force ruto's ambassador nominee to turn down lucrative job.

Kenya’s Travel Sector Bounces Back With A 90% Recovery -30/10/2023

Kenya’s travel sector has experienced a remarkable recovery of up to 90% from the impacts of Covid-19, according to the Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA), demonstrating the industry’s resilience and the immense potential for growth ahead.

This came up during a comprehensive familiarization meeting that the Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Tourism and Wildlife, Dr. Alfred Mutua, conducted today with the Kenya Association of Travel Agents. 

In the course of the discussions, the allocation of landing rights for airlines seeking direct flights to Kenya emerged as a pressing matter, and the CS promised to look into it.

“We are dedicated to fostering an environment that ensures Kenya remains a premier destination for global travelers. I therefore pledge to bring this matter to my fellow colleagues in the cabinet, and we will endeavor to find an equitable and efficient solution,” said Mutua.

Also present was the principal secretary, State Department for Tourism, John Ololtuaa, and the Tourism Secretary, Dr. Patrick Bucha.

Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!

About the author: ict authority.

Related Posts

Leave A Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Kenya Offers Incentives to Indian Travel Agents. Plus: New Metro Route to the Taj Mahal — India Report

Bulbul Dhawan , Skift

March 5th, 2024 at 11:00 PM EST

India was the fifth biggest source market for Kenya in 2022. It, therefore, plays an important role in the African nation's strategy to recover its tourism sector from the pandemic.

Bulbul Dhawan

The Skift India Newsletter is your go-to platform for all news related to travel, tourism, airlines, and hospitality in India.

The Kenya Tourism Board has launched a marketing campaign in India. Under the campaign, the tourism board will provide travel agents with incentives to promote Kenya as a tourism destination to the Indian travelers. 

The campaign highlights the importance of India for Kenya’s tourism. John Chirchir, Ag CEO, Kenya Tourism Board, said that India stands as a pivotal market for Kenya in terms of travel and tourism. “We believe that this initiative will significantly contribute to strengthening our foothold in this dynamic landscape,” he added. 

Visa-free entry in Kenya: In January 2024, Kenya became a visa-free country for international tourists, including for Indian passport holders. The move aimed to boost the country’s tourism sector, while also streamlining the entry process in the country with a new digital portal. Travelers to Kenya only need to apply and pay for an electronic travel authorization in order to enter the country. 

In 2022, Kenya received more than 81,000 tourists from India, an increase of more than 93% over the 2021 figure. India was also the fifth largest source market for the country in 2022. During the first eight months of 2023, Kenya attracted most Indian visitors among all African nations .

New Stretch of Agra Metro Connecting Taj Mahal to be Launched 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the new stretch of the Agra Metro on Wednesday. The new stretch will connect to popular tourist destinations including Taj Mahal and Agra Fort. The rapid transit network in Uttar Pradesh’s Agra will operate trains on the new route between 6 am and 10 pm every day. 

The new stretch has been named ‘priority corridor’, and will connect Taj East Gate with Mankameshwar Temple. According to Ministry of Tourism data, Taj Mahal was the most visited ASI monument during the 2022-23 fiscal year. The monument received a domestic footfall of 4.5 million during this period. 

21.8 Million Domestic Tourists Visited Kerala in 2023

The coastal state of Kerala recorded 21.8 million domestic tourists in 2023, setting a new record for its domestic tourist arrivals. This figure was nearly 16% up from the 2022 levels, which stood at nearly 18.9 million tourists. 

Notably, 2023 also marked an increase of about 19% over the 2019 pre-Covid levels, Kerala tourism minister P A Mohamed Riyas said. Ernakulam district, where Kochi is located, saw the highest influx of tourists in 2023, followed by Idukki district, in which Munnar is situated. State capital’s district Thiruvananthapuram was the third most visited district in Kerala. 

EaseMyTrip Launches Co-Branded Credit Card with Punjab National Bank

Online travel agency EaseMyTrip has collaborated with Punjab National Bank to launch the PNB EMT co-branded credit card. The card will provide holders with rewards and benefits to travelers on flights, hotels, and holiday packages bookings. The card also allows holders to access domestic and international airport lounges. 

Co-branded credit cards are becoming more popular in the hospitality and travel industry in India. Last year, Marriott International’s loyalty program Marriott Bonvoy partnered HDFC Bank to launch a co-branded credit card . Full-service airline Vistara has also partnered with multiple banks including SBI and Axis Bank to launch a range of credit cards. IndiGo also has a co-branded credit card with HDFC Bank. 

Yatra Online Appoints Gaurav Luthra as Chief Business Officer

Gaurav Luthra has been appointed as the Chief Business Officer — New Business Development for Yatra Online. He will drive the corporate travel proposition of the company, while focusing on mid-market and SME customers. Luthra will also develop new products including visa facilitation and car rentals for business travelers.

Yatra Online is looking to further grow its business. In the third quarter of 2023-24 fiscal year, the company reported a year-on-year revenue growth of 23%.

Etihad Airways to Expand Operations to Jaipur

Etihad Airways has announced its plans to expand its operations to Jaipur, Rajasthan. The national airline of the United Arab Emirates will begin four weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and Jaipur starting June 16.

The airline is also increasing its frequency to Thiruvananthapuram from June 15. With three additional flights, the airline will operate a total of 10 weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and the state capital of Kerala.

Agoda Launches AI-Driven Personalized Advertisement Campaign

Online travel platform Agoda has introduced a personalized advertising campaign driven by Artificial Intelligence. The campaign, which is tailored to the Indian audience, features actor Ayushmann Khurrana. With the help of the technology, the platform has created more than 250 customized videos for various tourist destinations in India and abroad. 

The campaign has used a single video of the actor and converted it into more than 250 ads with the help of generative AI. The technology aids in adapting the ad to the user according to their destination of interest in order to make it relevant to each viewer.

Skift India Summit

Watch recordings from the event starting in late March at Skift Live .

Have a confidential tip for Skift? Get in touch

Tags: agoda , airlines , credit cards , easemytrip , Etihad Airways , hotels , india , kenya , kerala , marketing campaign , taj mahal , tourism , travel credit card , visa waiver , yatra

Photo credit: Kenya has made entry visa free for all international tourists in a bid to increase tourism. Kenya Tourism Board