A focus on adventure tourism and scenic attractions including mountains, tropical forests and savannah grasslands will help Kenya’s tourism sector recover from its post-Covid slump, according to the country’s Ministry for Tourism and Wildlife.

Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala said that promoting Kenya’s opportunities for adventure tourism would help the sector’s post-pandemic revival and create new jobs for the country’s young people.

Country's landmarks "ideal for visitors looking for outdoor adventure"

He added that hiking and mountaineering had have the potential to increase visitor numbers and generate new revenues. He explained: “We are positioning the country as a top destination for adventure tourism. Our landmarks like mountains are ideal for visitors looking for outdoor adventure.”

Bala cited attractions such as the 5,199 metre Mount Kenya, Africa’s second tallest mountain and UNESCO Natural World Heritage site Mount Kenya national park and wildlife sanctuary as key adventure destinations. Bala recently led a group of hikers to explore Mount Longonot in the Rift Valley as part of concerted efforts to promote the destination.

He added that the Kenyan government would invest in improvements to amenities such as toilets and water points along hiking paths in the mountains and improve security in order to attract more adventure seekers.

Sector gaining momentum after pandemic

Allan Njoroge, company secretary at Kenya Tourism Board, said that raising the stature of adventure tourism would form part of the sector’s diversification. He added this was now regaining its momentum after the pandemic.