Kenya is preparing to host one of its most significant tourism events with the 15th edition of the Magical Kenya Travel Expo set to open on Thursday, October 2, 2025, at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi.
The event will be officially launched by the Deputy President, His Excellency Prof. Kithure Kindiki, EGH, and it comes at a time when the country is positioning itself as a leader in sustainable tourism development and investment within Africa.
The theme for this year’s Expo is “Magical Kenya: Unlocking Africa’s Potential through Sustainable Tourism,” which reflects the growing importance of tourism as a key economic driver not only for Kenya but also for the African continent.
The 2025 edition is expected to attract over 6,500 delegates from 40 different countries, according to the Kenya Tourism Board.
This gathering will not only showcase Kenya’s tourism strengths but also provide a platform to discuss investment opportunities, sustainability, and innovation in the sector.
Africa currently contributes about 42 percent of visitor numbers to Kenya, and the event takes place at a time when there is renewed growth in Africa’s tourism landscape.
Kenya has experienced remarkable recovery in recent years, welcoming 2.4 million international arrivals in 2024 and generating Ksh. 452 billion in revenue.
This success has laid a strong foundation for the government’s ambitious target of 5.5 million visitors by 2027.
Photo Courtesy/Kenya Tourism Board.
Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano has emphasized the government’s commitment to making tourism a central pillar of economic growth under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
She pointed out that integrating the Africa Tourism Investment Forum into the Expo is a deliberate step to address long-standing challenges, especially the lack of access to capital for African tourism businesses.
In bringing investors, entrepreneurs, and policymakers together, the forum will provide a direct platform for unlocking meaningful opportunities that can reshape the industry.
The government is also focusing heavily on infrastructure development to support this growth.
Projects like the Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau Summit Highway and the Dongo Kundu Bypass are designed to improve access to tourist circuits in western Kenya and the coastal region respectively. In addition, efforts to expand air connectivity through direct flights from major international hubs are expected to boost arrivals.
Kenya is also making strides in cruise tourism, with Mombasa increasingly recognized as a key destination along the Indian Ocean, which further diversifies the country’s tourism offering.
The Magical Kenya Travel Expo has grown into East Africa’s premier international tourism trade fair. It connects local service providers with international buyers and media, offering an opportunity to showcase the diversity and richness of Kenya’s tourism products.
This year’s event is expected to further cement Kenya’s role as a gateway to Africa’s tourism opportunities while highlighting the country’s commitment to sustainability and inclusive growth.
