Mombasa: The government has reaffirmed its commitment to unlocking Kenya's coastal tourism sector through strategic investments, partnerships, and infrastructure development. Speaking at the Kenya Coast Tourism Investment Conference 2025 organised by the Kenya Tourism Board at Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort and Spa in Mombasa, Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano said the Coastal region remained central to the country's tourism industry, generating more than Sh100 billion annually and sustaining hundreds of thousands of jobs in hospitality, transport, and cultural services.
According to Kenya News Agency, the CS stated that the forum builds on the momentum of the Property Owners' Forum held in Diani in August, which provided a platform for dialogue on coastal hospitality investments. She said investing in the Coast aligns with the government's Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which recognises tourism as a critical driver of foreign exchange, job creation, and inclusive growth.
Miano highlighted progress in macroeconomic stability, including a stronger shilling and easing inflation, which she said provides a favourable climate for investment. She added that the government is supporting public-private partnerships to deliver large-scale projects ranging from roads to digital connectivity, with emphasis on sustainability and climate resilience.
Tourism Principal Secretary John Ololtuaa said the conference provided a platform to explore solutions for the future of coastal tourism. He expounded that the State Department for Tourism is spearheading cross-agency collaboration to ensure that investors could access incentives, navigate approvals seamlessly, and benefit from Kenya's strong tourism brand equity.
Investment Principal Secretary Hassan Abubakar emphasised that Kenya remained open for business, saying tourism contributes 10 per cent of GDP, with half of this generated from the Coast. He cited reforms such as visa-free entry, open skies agreements, improved infrastructure, and political stability as key to attracting new investment.
Kenya Tourism Board Chairperson Francis Gichaba underscored the Coast's diverse assets, including marine parks, Swahili architecture, and historic towns such as Lamu, Malindi, and Watamu. He said Kenya has set an ambitious target of increasing national arrivals from 2.4 million last year to 5.5 million by 2027.