Kenya is one of the economic and political heavyweights of East Africa. Despite recent security issues, it is recording strong economic growth and maintaining its leading position in the region. Recent discoveries of new oil, gas and water reserves and a young population give further cause for optimism, and the government is working to put the right policies into place to maximise the country’s potential.
As East Africa’s largest economy, Kenya has seen its economy grow by more than 4% for the last three years, according to data from the World Bank, while an improvement in fiscal indicators and a new constitution encouraging devolution have helped to improve governance and the public balance sheet.
Kenya has long been a popular tourist destination and the sector continues to be a critical industry for the country, although it has taken a number of serious knocks recently amid insecurity and travel advisories issued by several Western nations. Tourism directly accounted for 4.8% of GDP in 2013, or $2.09bn, with a total contribution to GDP of 12.1%, or $5.28bn. These contributions are...
In light of recent security threats, what can be done to expand or insulate the tourism market?
With its Indian Ocean beaches, abundant wildlife and vibrant cultural heritage, Kenya has long been a popular tourist destination. Tourism continues to be a critical industry for the country, although it has taken a number of serious knocks recently amid insecurity and travel advisories issued by several Western nations.
As part of a wider commitment to deepening East African cooperation, Kenya joined Uganda and Rwanda in 2014 in creating a single tourism visa regime for the region. Officially launched in the Ugandan capital of Kampala on February 20, the immediate effect of the combined visa is to reduce the cost of visiting the trio to $100, compared to $150 for the three separate...
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