Tourism earnings hit Sh98 billion mark

Kenya’s tourism industry is a billion dollar industry. It raked in Sh98 billion ($1.18 bn) last year, though short of the 100 billion target. This is a 32 per cent increase, up from Sh77 billion earned in 2010.

Tourism Minister Najib Balala while announcing the industry’s results, said arrivals rose 15.4 per cent to 1.26 million, just shy of a targeted 1.3 million visitors last year.

He, however, expects a rough year for the industry this year, noting that the euro zone crisis would curb growth. "I don’t expect any growth. The economic crisis is seriously biting. Growth this year is expected to be at the same level as last year at Sh98 billion," he said.