Kenya’s travel and tourism sector is set to contribute a record 1 trillion Kenyan shillings to the economy in 2023, with employment in the sector increasing to 1.55 million people. By 2034, Tanzania’s travel and tourism sector is expected to experience significant growth, reaching 30.9 trillion Tanzanian shillings.
LONDON, UK – Kenya’s travel and tourism industry is set to have a record year and contribute KES1TN to the national economy in 2023, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council’s (WTTC) 2024 Economic Impact Review (EIR). Employment in the sector grew by 6% to a record high of 1.55 million, accounting for one-thirteenth of employment nationwide.
Last year, domestic tourist spending exceeded 466 billion Kenyan shillings, nearly 15 percent higher than the previous peak and setting a new record, while international tourist spending was below the 1999 peak at just 266 billion Kenyan shillings.
WTTC President and CEO Julia Simpson said, “The recovery of Kenya’s travel and tourism sector is testament to the country’s resilience. Record growth in economic contribution, employment and domestic visitor spending all highlights the vital role the sector plays in the country’s economy. Although international visitor spending is currently lagging behind its peak, the future is bright for travel and tourism in Kenya, with significant opportunities for growth and development over the next decade.”
According to the latest study from the international tourism organisation, travel and tourism is projected to contribute 9% to the Kenyan economy to reach Ksh1.15 trillion, up from last year. The sector is projected to support over 1.6 million jobs, accounting for about 8% of Kenya’s employment. Domestic tourist spending will continue to lead the sector, forecast to reach Ksh521 billion, while international tourist spending is forecast to be lower than ever, reaching Ksh289.5 billion.
WTTC projects that with the right government support, the sector’s annual GDP contribution could grow to 1.7 trillion Kenyan shillings by 2034, accounting for 7.4% of the Kenyan economy and creating more than 2.2 million jobs across the country.
Tanzania travel and tourism to reach record-breaking levels in 2023
According to the data, travel and tourism will contribute 18.6 trillion Tanzanian shillings to Tanzania’s national economy, 4% above its previous peak in 2019 and accounting for 9.5% of the economy, demonstrating the importance of this sector to economic output. Visitor spending will also reach record levels in 2023, with international visitor spending exceeding 8 trillion Tanzanian shillings and domestic spending reaching 3.7 trillion Tanzanian shillings, 11.1% and 12.8% above 2019 levels respectively. Employment exceeded 1.4 million, with over 97,300 new jobs added, but remains 7.4% below the 2019 peak.
According to the international tourism body, this positive trend is expected to continue this year with the tourism sector’s contribution to Tanzania’s national economy projected to reach 20.3 trillion Tanzanian shillings in 2024, accounting for almost 10 percent of the economy.
Tanzania
Visitor spending is also expected to grow significantly this year, with international visitor spending expected to reach 8.7 trillion Tanzanian shillings, up 8.5% from 2023, while domestic visitor spending is forecast to increase to more than 3.9 trillion Tanzanian shillings.
Employment in the travel and tourism industry is expected to reach a record level this year, with employment expected to grow to more than 1.5 million people, highlighting the industry’s role as a major employer in the country.
Julia Simpson said: “Tanzania’s travel and tourism sector is growing from strength to strength, contributing record figures to the national economy. This highlights the vital role of the sector in driving economic development and job creation, with continued growth and job creation predicted for the coming years.”
Tanzania’s travel and tourism sector is expected to experience significant growth, reaching 30.9 trillion Tanzanian shillings in 2034. The sector is also projected to continue contributing to job creation, reaching a total employment of 2.25 million people, creating 710,000 new jobs and employing almost 1 in every 15 people in the country.
Theodore is co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of the TravelDailyNews Media Network and is responsible for business development and planning long-term opportunities for TravelDailyNews.
