Tourism Ministry Targets Hospitality Credit to Boost Kenya Visitor Numbers
Nairobi – The Ministry of Tourism is working to expand access to credit for hospitality businesses in a renewed effort to drive growth in Kenya’s tourism sector. The move is aimed at boosting international arrivals and improving travel infrastructure across the country.
Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano confirmed the plan during the 2025 Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers Symposium. She said affordable financing is key to helping investors build modern, competitive hospitality facilities.
“One of the areas of focus the Government is keen on is making credit for the hospitality industry more accessible and affordable,” Miano stated. “That way, we shall encourage more investors in the sector to put up modern facilities that the sector can market in various parts of the country.”
The ministry has set a target to attract at least 2.5 million international visitors in 2025. Miano added that Kenya is on track to reach 5 million arrivals annually by 2027. She also emphasized the need to grow domestic tourism.
“We are also aiming to increase numbers of our domestic tourism,” she said. “Encouraging our own people to rediscover their homeland is the best way of strengthening the foundation of our industry’s stability.”
As part of regional integration efforts, Kenya expects 300,000 tourists from Uganda this year. The projection is driven by cross-border packages and visa-free travel policies between the two countries.
Miano also outlined additional strategies to strengthen tourism. These include adopting an open skies policy to expand flight access and applying artificial intelligence to enhance marketing campaigns, particularly to attract younger travelers.
Kenya recently submitted a bid to host the 2025 Mobile World Congress, a global event that could further position the country as a tech-driven tourism hub. It also secured the chair of the UN World Tourism Organization committee on competitiveness.
As the government pushes for greater investment in tourism, the Ministry of Tourism plans to work closely with financial institutions and private sector partners to unlock credit opportunities for entrepreneurs looking to grow their presence in the hospitality space.
