The number of visitors arriving through the country’s two main airports in the first three months of the year reached its highest level in at least a decade, coinciding with the visa-free policy that came into effect at the beginning of 2024.
Official data showed that 409,164 visitors arrived in the country via Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Moi International Airport in Mombasa, a 10 percent jump from the 370,570 visitors recorded last year.
The rise comes as Kenya implements a visa-free policy for all visitors in a bid to boost numbers and boost profits.
But the policy announced by President William Ruto has been criticised for its hectic clearance procedures and the requirement to pay a processing fee of $30 (Sh3,920 at current exchange rates) to clear under the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).
Analysis of official data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics showed that visitor numbers in the first three months of this year marked the first time visitor numbers have crossed the 400,000 mark.
The number of visitors through the two airports reached 146,442 in February this year, but the number fell to 128,057 in March.
The lowest number of visitors in a decade in the first three months of the year was 121,739 recorded in 2021, a time when travel restrictions due to the coronavirus were still in place.
The visa waiver policy is based on the expectation that the high number of visitors will lead to increased spending.
But it is the electronic entry permit that has raised complaints, especially among repeat visitors from non-African countries.
Experts also warned that allowing e-travel would likely negate the expected benefits of the visa waiver policy.
In March this year, the Kenya Travel Agents Association denounced the new costs and increased documentation associated with obtaining an eTA, with travellers also required to share proof of flight ticket and hotel reservation.
When applying for an e-Visa, visitors must provide their arrival and departure dates days before their travel.
The eTA is for single entry and is valid for 90 days, which is shorter than visas, causing major inconvenience to frequent visitors who are used to staying in the country for long periods.
However, Kenya has exempted at least several African countries from the e-commerce agreement.
In addition, foreigners working for the United Nations, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund top the list of those exempted from paying the e-Visa fee.
The rise in visitor numbers is expected to boost the country’s tourism earnings, from a record Sh352.54 billion recorded last year.
Last year, about 2.08 million tourists visited the country, compared to 1.54 million tourists who visited the country the year before.
But visitor numbers in June this year are likely to have been affected by anti-government protests that have rocked Kenya.
The protests have prompted several countries, including the UK, Canada and Ireland, to issue travel warnings for their citizens visiting Kenya.
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