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East Africa

Kenya Sees Significant Increase in Chinese Tourist Arrivals in 2024

January 25, 2025

(3 Minutes Read)

Chinese tourist arrivals to Kenya Rise by 29,000 in 2024. Kenya played host to about 80,000 inbound Chinese tourists in 2024, up from 51,000 in 2023.

Chinese tourist arrivals to Kenya Rise by 29,000 in 2024. Kenya played host to about 80,000 inbound Chinese tourists in 2024, up from 51,000 in 2023. John Ololtuaa, principal secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife made this statement and stressed that the increase was mainly driven by marketing campaigns in five major cities in China.

The government, through the Kenya Tourism Board, ensured that Kenya had in-market agency representation in China so that Chinese tour operators and travel agents could effectively raise awareness of Kenya’s unique tourism products. Ololtuaa stated this on the sidelines of the launch of preparations for the World Chamber Forum-Africa Global Summit 2025 scheduled to take place in Kenya in April. Hosted in conjunction with the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a trade lobby, the three-day inaugural WCF-Africa Global Summit will bring together more than 4,500 delegates from 70 countries, including heads of state and government, entrepreneurs, and innovators under the theme “Africa’s Global Future: Integrated, Innovative and Sustainable.

Ololtuaa said Kenya is seeking to increase the number of inbound Chinese tourists to over 150,000 by intensifying marketing efforts on Chinese-language digital marketing platforms such as Weibo, WeChat, and Douyin. He revealed that in the first quarter of 2025, Kenya will host key opinion leaders from China to develop and share digital content that will promote Kenya on Chinese social media based on their firsthand experiences in Kenya.

To increase Chinese arrivals, Kenya is also implementing a sales and marketing campaign aimed at driving year-round visitation and enhancing business conference arrivals to Kenya, Ololtuaa added.