Magical Kenya Travel Expo Focus on African Integration and Investment
The 15th edition of the Magical Kenya Travel Expo (MKTE) took place in Nairobi, with calls for greater regional cooperation and cross-border investment to unlock Africa’s full tourism potential. Kenya’s Deputy President, Prof Kithure Kindiki, reported a 15% rise in international arrivals to 2.4 million in 2024, contributing KSh 452 billion in revenue and supporting 1.7 million tourism-related jobs. He outlined ambitious targets to grow international arrivals to 5.5 million by 2027, driven by infrastructure upgrades, visa reforms, and the introduction of new tourism products.
This year’s MKTE drew more than 6,500 delegates, 400 exhibitors, and over 10,000 business meetings, reflecting its evolution into a Pan-African platform. The event also featured the inaugural Africa Tourism Investment Forum, which spotlighted cruise tourism, eco-tourism, and convention infrastructure as key growth areas. Industry leaders urged African stakeholders to market the continent as a unified destination and prioritise intra-African travel and investment. Visa harmonisation, transport connectivity, and showcasing underexplored regions were underscored as vital to Africa’s tourism future, with sustainability initiatives taking centre stage through Kenya’s ongoing “One Tourist, One Tree” campaign.
Source: JoyNews
