According to Passport Reports, the Kenyan passport now carries a Mobility Score of 75, granting visa‑free access to 37 destinations, visa‑on‑arrival to 33, and electronic travel authorisation to five, while 123 countries still require a pre‑issued visa.

The tourism upswing is confirmed by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), which reported that international arrivals grew from 2.40 million in 2024 to 2.55 million in 2025, a 6.2% increase, and that holiday travel accounted for 47.8% of visits while business travel represented 25.2% (about 643,100 visitors).

Central Bank of Kenya data show the momentum continued, with 2.61 million arrivals in the 12 months to June 2026 – a 7.7% rise over the comparable period – attributed to government initiatives to diversify source markets and boost “conferencing, business and holiday tourism.”

The meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) segment is expanding rapidly: KNBS recorded 998 international conferences hosted in Kenya in 2025 and a 12.9% rise in local conferences to 12,671, a growth the Kenya MICE Association attributes to the sector’s strategic focus on high‑value events.

“MICE is the next frontier for growing tourism revenue,” said Duncan Muriuki, chairman of the Kenya MICE Association, adding that the industry is shifting toward events that generate spending across hotels, transport and related services.

Kenya Tourism Board chief executive June Chepkemei highlighted the role of trade platforms, noting that the 2026 Magical Kenya Travel Expo is expected to draw more than 10,000 delegates from 40 countries, over 400 exhibitors and 250 international buyers, as part of a plan to reach five million visitors by the end of 2027.

Outbound travel demand is also rising. VFS Global data show visa‑application volumes from Kenya increased 20% in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, after a 44% jump in 2025, reflecting growing interest in overseas employment, education and tourism.

Tour operators point to ease of movement as a key competitiveness factor. Raymond Cheruiyot, chairman of the Tour Operators Society of Kenya, cited visa access and air connectivity as essential, while noting competition and aviation costs as ongoing challenges.

The government is weighing measures to improve both inbound and outbound mobility, including plans to open Kenya’s skies further and a review of the electronic travel authorisation policy to simplify entry for foreign visitors.

Domestic tourism remains a strong buffer: occupied hotel bed‑nights rose 12.6% to 11.56 million in 2025, with Kenyan travellers accounting for 45% of that total, and visits to national parks increased 5.7% to 3.95 million.