Revenue from tourism in Kenya jumped nearly a third in 2023 over the previous year beating the pre-pandemic numbers, according to the tourism ministry.
Kenya has been a major tourist destination in East Africa traditionally attracting visitors from across the world to its wildlife parks and Indian Ocean beaches.
A ministry report seen by AFP on Sunday said revenue rose 31.5 percent last year to hit 352.5 billion shillings (nearly USD2.7 billion).
But per capita spending in dollar terms by the 1.95 million visitors fell.
“Despite the increase in the number of visitors in 2023 as compared to 2022, the average per capita expenditure in US dollars decreased significantly,” the report said.
The airline, whose biggest shareholder is the Kenyan government, also said in a statement that its loss after tax had reduced to almost 23 billion shillings from more than 38 billion shillings the year before. Total revenue for the year surged by 53 per cent to 178 billion shillings, which the airline attributed mainly to a 35 per cent growth in passenger numbers to 5.04 million, according to its audited results statement.
“This is partly attributed to the sustained depreciation of the Kenya shilling against the major currencies.”Before the coronavirus pandemic, tourism brought in about USD2.24 billion in 2019 from two million visitors, or about 10 percent of GDP.
Americans accounted for the largest number of 2023 arrivals at 265,310, followed by Ugandans (201,623), Tanzanians (157,818) and 156,700 from the United Kingdom.
The ministry hopes to welcome 2.4 million tourists this year.
In January, Kenya’s immigration services said the first batch of foreign tourists had arrived under a simplified “visa-free” entry system it hoped would encourage more visitors.
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Expecting over 1.5 million Indian tourists this year, Singapore is focusing on increasing its hospitality infrastructure such as hotel rooms, and working on seamless and easy visas for them, a senior tourism official said on Wednesday. Before the pandemic-induced lockdown, Singapore had received 1.4 million tourists from India in 2019, which then recovered to 1.1 million in 2023.
In 2024, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) expects the number to go past the 2019 strength even as it acknowledged the potential of getting over 1.5 million visitors though it has not set any target given “the huge tourism potential of the Indian market.”
With three offices in Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai, the STB is working on getting seamless and easy visas for Indian tourists, Poh Chi Chuan, executive director of Exhibition & Conference at the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) told PTI.
The island state is building infrastructure for tourists and business travellers, such as 9,000 new hotel rooms that are being added to about 72,000 existing rooms.
“We need visitors to come and fill these rooms,” Poh underlined and hoped “The flights between India and Singapore get back to the pre-pandemic level.”
New carriers are operating in India and once they start flying internationally, the number of tourists would increase, Poh added at a press conference.
The press conference was held to announce the inaugural APAC edition of the world-renowned National Retail Federation (NRF) Retail Big Show to be held here on June 11-13, six months after NRF 2024: Retail’s Big Show in New York City.
Singapore is just not looking at the tourist traffic out of India but also business travellers given that both countries have growing trade and a prospering Indian economy, he said.
“We also see a lot of opportunities coming up in India in sectors such as pharma, BioMed, IT and FinTech. These are very strong industries for Singapore to increase bilateral trade,” said Poh, adding that Singapore has large-scale exhibitions and conferences catering to these sectors covering advanced technologies.
The APAC edition of NRF is expecting between five per cent to 10 per cent of delegates for its 5,000-participant strong Singapore show in June, said Ryf Quail, managing director of the global retail event that is held annually in New York.
The introduction of these codeshare connections enhances travel options for Indian tourists, as well as business and leisure travellers, especially during the upcoming summer season. IndiGo already provides travel options to Singapore, further complemented by seamless connectivity to Qantas’ flights between Singapore and Australia. Both airlines had signed a codeshare agreement in 2022.
Industry stalwarts addressing the mega gathering include Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO, the Retailers Association of India, Shireesh Joshi, Chief Business Officer, The Open Network for Digital Commerce, and Mathsy Kutty, APAC Leader, The Climate Pledge, Amazon.
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The US Embassy in India has seen a significant increase in tourist visa adjudications this year according to recent remarks by a senior embassy official. In Fiscal Year 2023, the embassy adjudicated over 700,000 tourist visa applications, an 185 per cent increase from the previous year.
Highlighting the immense scale of operations, the consulate officer revealed that the US embassy, along with its four consulates, constitutes the second-largest consular operation globally, following Mexico. With a total staff of almost 350, the embassy’s workforce has expanded significantly, indicating a concerted effort to manage the increasing demand for visa services.
“We had over 700,000 adjudications in 2023 representing a remarkable 185 per cent increase compared to the previous year. Moreover, India ranks as the largest source of work and student visas globally, further underscoring US’s significance in the visa landscape,” the officer stated.
This makes it the highest single year volume for tourist visas ever processed in India. The official noted they expect the volume to surpass the previous record of 745,000 applications set in 2018.
“I think this year we might actually surpass that we hit records and everything else we do,” the officer said.
While tourist visas make up over 50 per cent of the embassy’s total visa workload, the official stressed they prioritise other visa categories like work and student visas as per US law. However, they have increased staffing levels by over a third to handle the growing demand.
In terms of overall tourist numbers, Indonesia welcomed a staggering 11.67 million visitors in 2023, almost double the number in 2022. Bali alone received 5.23 million visitors, accounting for nearly half of Indonesia’s total tourism arrivals. To boost arrivals from India, plans for Vistara direct flights from Bombay and strengthening Delhi departures are in the pipeline.
To address the surge in demand, the embassy has implemented measures to enhance efficiency and reduce wait times. Despite technical challenges, such as the transition to a new appointment system, efforts to streamline the process have yielded positive results. Notably, wait times have decreased by 75 per cent over the past year, with further improvements expected in the future.”Our wait times have dropped by 75 per cent in the last year. There were over 1000 days in December of 2022 and now they range low to hundreds to around four now,” he stated.
One significant change involves preventing the hoarding of appointment slots by visa travel agents, ensuring fair access to all applicants. This has contributed to a more equitable distribution of appointments and reduced instances of exploitation.
However, the officer acknowledged the ongoing challenges posed by India’s vast population and the corresponding demand for visas. While the embassy remains committed to addressing these challenges, resource limitations necessitate a strategic approach to managing visa operations effectively.
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Kerala has set a new record in domestic tourist arrivals in 2023 with 2.18 crore tourist footfalls, a 15.92 per cent increase from the previous year, Minister for Tourism and Public Works P A Mohamed Riyas said on Monday. In 2022, Kerala witnessed 1,88,67,414 domestic tourist footfalls.
Significantly, domestic tourist arrivals recorded an increase of 18.97 per cent compared to 2019, the minister told a press conference here.
In 2023, Ernakulam district witnessed the highest influx of domestic tourists with 44,87,930 visitors, followed by Idukki (36,33,584), Thiruvananthapuram (35,89,932), Thrissur (24,78,573), and Wayanad (17,50,267).
The state also witnessed a healthy increase in international tourist arrivals with 6,49,057 visitors in 2023, as compared to 3,45,549 tourists in 2022, indicating a remarkable growth of 87.83 per cent.
Ernakulam district was visited by 2,79,904 tourists from abroad, followed by Thiruvananthapuram (1,48,462), Idukki (1,03,644), Alappuzha (31,403), and Kottayam (28,458).
Under both mild and severe scenarios, it is projected that by the end of 2024, South Asia will attract 25 million and 60 million visitors, respectively. On the other end, India’s attractiveness to tourists is expected to improve by 2026. Prof Haiyan Song, Research Head at PATA, and Dean of Hospitality and Tourism at Hong Kong Polytechnic University shares more insights.
“This is a testament to Kerala Tourism’s vigorous efforts based on well-crafted policy initiatives and meticulously implemented promotional strategies within and outside the country,” Riyas said. As for the number of visitors from abroad, the minister pointed out that despite a significant uptick, it was still 45.45 per cent lower when compared to international tourist arrivals before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Though there has been a steady increase in the arrival of foreign tourists, which was adversely impacted by the pandemic, it will take some more time to reach the pre-pandemic level, he said.
“The conflicts in some parts of the world also affect international tourism. Despite these challenges, there has been good progress in foreign tourist footfalls in Kerala. Adventure tourism events planned for this year will help us regain much of the lost ground. We are also working on plans to attract more tourists to the Malabar region,” the minister added.
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India has emerged as Nepal’s top inbound tourist market in February, the tourism authority here said on Saturday, as the key sector in the Himalayan nation is gradually witnessing recovery from the onslaught of the coronavirus pandemic. Of the total 97,426 tourists arriving in the country by air route last month, 25,578 were from India, followed by China with 9,180 and the US with 9,089 visitors, according to data published by the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB).
Thailand is in fourth place with 4,799 inbound visitors, while the UK and Bangladesh ranked fifth and sixth in the list with 4,571 and 4,099 tourists respectively.
According to NTB Director Mani Lamichhane, though the data showed over 25,000 Indians visiting Nepal in February, the actual number is much higher as a large number of tourists from India visited the country via land route.
In January, Nepal received 18,041 visitors from India.
The number of tourists arriving via air route in Nepal in February is 33 per cent up from February 2023, which witnessed arrival of 73,255 visitors. As compared to 2019, the pre-Covid 19 period, it was 95.12 per cent recovery. The number of tourists arrival in Nepal in February 2019 was 1,02,423, the NTB said.
Nepal’s tourism sector, which is badly affected by COVID-19, is expected to revive in 2024, and the February data is a positive indication, NTB Director Lamichhane said.
As the tourism season in Nepal starts after March, the number of visitors will significantly increase from next month, he said.
In terms of overall tourist numbers, Indonesia welcomed a staggering 11.67 million visitors in 2023, almost double the number in 2022. Bali alone received 5.23 million visitors, accounting for nearly half of Indonesia’s total tourism arrivals. To boost arrivals from India, plans for Vistara direct flights from Bombay and strengthening Delhi departures are in the pipeline.
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In a bid to position Uttar Pradesh as a ‘premier global tourist destination,’ Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath‘s government is set to showcase ‘Brand UP‘ and ‘Destination UP‘ at 12 major international trade fairs and travel expos.
According to Chief Minister Yogi’s vision, a detailed action plan has been prepared to project Uttar Pradesh as ‘Brand UP‘ and as the ‘Most Favourite Tourist Destination‘ nationally and internationally. The master plan focuses primarily on the significant role of international trade shows, travel fairs, and expos in achieving this objective.
“The extensive promotion strategy involves utilising various channels, including organising roadshows and widespread campaigns, with the overarching goal of elevating the state’s visibility on the global tourism stage,” the Chief Minister’s office said in a press release.
Among them, Japan, Israel, China, America, France, Singapore, Britain, Australia, Germany, Israel, Russia and the UAE are prominent. Simultaneously, a detailed plan has been devised to highlight Uttar Pradesh as a tourist hotspot during various events in approximately 50 cities across 28 countries, including India.
The Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department has initiated actions on these plans, with ongoing efforts to engage agencies for international brand building, marketing, publicity, and operations, with a focus on organising national and international roadshows.
“The international events that will be targeted through this process include ITB Asia (Singapore), IFTM Top Resa Paris (France), JATA Tokyo (Japan), WTM London (UK), USTOA, FITUR Madrid (Spain), AIME Melbourne ( Australia), IMTM Tel Aviv (Israel), MITT Moscow (Russia), ATM Dubai (UAE), and COTTM Beijing (China). The execution involves organising promotional and brand development campaigns at all selected international locations, along with coordination with Indian embassies to ensure the success of the initiative,” the press release added.
As per the action plan, international roadshows are scheduled for cities like London, Manchester, Birmingham, and Glasgow in Britain; Madrid, Bilbao, and Barcelona in Spain; Rome and Milan in Italy; and Berlin, Munich, and Frankfurt in Germany. Similarly, roadshows will be held and stalls set up at exhibitions to be held in Lisbon, Portugal, Oslo in Norway, Stockholm in Sweden, Paris in France, The Hague in the Netherlands and Helsinki in Finland.
‘Brand UP’ and Uttar Pradesh tourism will also receive extensive promotion in major American cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago. Additionally, international roadshows are planned for Buenos Aires (Argentina), Brasilia (Brazil), Shanghai and Beijing (China), and Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane (Australia).
This brownfield project will be branded as an IHCL SeleQtions hotel. The 150-key hotel, sprawled over 1.3 acres, is at a short driving distance from the upcoming Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram International Airport as well as popular tourist spots. It will feature a range of dining options, recreation facilities as well as banqueting space, ideal to host social gatherings and corporate events.
In the Gulf countries, the outreach will cover Dubai (UAE), Muscat (Oman), Doha (Qatar), Kuwait City (Kuwait), Beirut (Lebanon), Moscow (Russia), and Tel Aviv (Israel).
South East Asian countries will witness promotional activities in Singapore, Bangkok (Thailand), Tokyo (Japan), Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Manila (Philippines), Hanoi (Vietnam), Jakarta (Indonesia), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Seoul (South Korea), Colombo (Sri Lanka), Thimphu (Bhutan), and Kathmandu (Nepal).
As part of the global promotion plan for Uttar Pradesh tourism and ‘Brand UP,’ efforts will be made to ensure that branding activities in foreign countries take place in areas with maximum footfall.
The work at these locations will be completed after receiving proposals from channel partners, media house owners, and owners of media outlets in all major airports, railway stations, bus stations, metro stations, and metro cities, the press release added.
Additionally, preparations have also begun to complete a comprehensive promotional and branding campaign across prime and non-prime time slots, TV and radio media houses, print, digital and other media sources in the country and abroad. A significant large-scale publicity and brand development campaign is also scheduled to be implemented through an agency at specific national locations, aligning with the directives provided by the Department of Tourism. (ANI)
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Abrupt dry winter, with no snowfall and unusually high temperatures, in the coldest parts of Kashmir has adversely impacted the tourism sector in the Valley. Adventure tourist arrivals have hit rock bottom.
The Valley is disturbingly warmer than other places in northern India. As experts point to global warming, dry winter could also lead to flash droughts during summers.
Snowless winter has spoiled a major portion of the adventure winter sports season in Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg, even as forecasters are expecting a light snowfall later this month and in February.
Srinagar Met Centre director Mukhtar Ahmad said: “We are hopeful of light snowfall in upper reaches in the later part of January and early February, which will recharge our glaciers as well.”
“The situation is worrisome for the adventure tourist industry. We have seen a 70% decline in tourist arrivals in Gulmarg, where most of the adventure and sports events are organised in winters,” said Rouf Tramboo, president of Travel Agents Association of Kashmir. The snowless Chillai Kalan – 40-day coldest winter period starting December 21 – has marred the excitement of several tourists, who had booked hotels for winter holidays. “We were fully booked till April, but now the majority of guests are cancelling, some are rescheduling and a few are short staying,” said Muhammad Arif, a hotel manager in Gulmarg.
J&K Tourism welcomed Mudgul as their Secretary, poised to build upon the foundation laid by her predecessor Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah’s tenure which notably witnessed a remarkable surge in tourism activities and numbers growing threefold, pinning J&K’s on the global tourism map.
A few feet of December snow at Sinthan Top – a mountain pass at about 12,500 feet in Anantnag district of south Kashmir, connecting Valley with Kishtwar district of Jammu – has come to the rescue of tour operators there. “I have diverted all my guests to Sinthan Top, which received early snowfall and has plenty of snow for tourists,” said Sajad Ahmad, a tour operator from Srinagar. Some of the operators in Kashmir have now taken their tourist groups to Kazakhstan to experience snow and skiing.
The Jammu & Kashmir administration officials have informed that ‘Khelo India Winter Games’, which is organised in Gulmarg and scheduled to start in the first week of February, might be deferred. To hold winter games, the ski resort needs a very thick layer of snow. “We had come to Kashmir for the first time to experience snow, but we are disappointed to see this dry meadow here,” said Kerala’s Madulekha, who along with her family has booked a hotel in Gulmarg for a week.
The dry spell has also impacted hydroelectricity generation, triggering a further increase in load shedding in an already electricity-deficit region. With rivers drying up, drinking water supply through springs and canals has also been affected.
Hundreds of locals are offering special prayers – Namaz-e-Istisqa – for rain and snowfall this winter.
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Himachal Pradesh‘s Chief Minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, addressed recent speculations surrounding tourism in the state, revealing a significant rise in visitor numbers despite setbacks in the industry. Popular destinations like Shimla, Manali, and Dharamshala observed an influx of tourists, countering rumours of traffic jams in Manali and other areas, which Sukhu dismissed as baseless.
Recently, a few concerns fueled by circulating aerial images of congested hill roads, impacted hotel bookings particularly during the festive season in the state. This resulted in a notable decline in hotel occupancy rates in Shimla compared to previous peak seasons, as reported by the local stakeholders. Reports suggest that Shimla recorded the lowest occupancy rate on this New year’s eve in last 40 years.
As images circulated, opinions diverged: some experts labeled it as overtourism, the others attributed the issue to excessive reliance on private vehicles. A responsible hotel chain owner pointed out the alarming congestion in India’s hill destinations, advocating for a Swiss-model public rail system. Similar concerns echoed in Munnar, he recalled where choked roads pointed to the problem of excessive tourist vehicles. According to the him, while the hilly destinations can accommodate more people, the strain lies in managing vehicles, highlighting the pressing need for alternative transportation solutions.On the other end, responding to the challenges, Sukhu assured the public of the government’s efforts to accommodate tourists, emphasising the commitment to making Himachal Pradesh self-reliant. In Nov 2023, Chief Minister Sukhu introduced the e-taxi scheme as part of the INR 680 crore Rajiv Gandhi self-employment start-up initiative. Sukhu emphasised its role in curbing air pollution, aiming to transform Himachal Pradesh into a green energy state by March 31, while also creating employment opportunities for youth. Moreover, the state is developing infrastructure, planning to install 17 e-charging stations within two months to support e-vehicle adoption.
The Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh said that infrastructure is being developed as per the modern-day requirements for the convenience of the visitors. He also informed that there were about 9,000 hotels in Himachal and considering the influx of tourists, the operation of homestays is also being regulated, to attract more tourists in the state.
Sukhu also recalled the government’s efficient response during the disaster caused by floods adding that within a span of 48 hours, essential services were temporarily restored. The successful evacuation of 75,000 tourists and 15,000 vehicles underscored the administration’s effectiveness in crisis management, the CM reiterated.Sukhu was speaking while inaugurating and laying the foundation stones for 13 projects totaling INR 197.93 crore in Kullu district on January 1. Among these were significant infrastructure ventures, including a double-lane bridge over River Beas at Raison costing INR 9.07 crore, and a steel truss bridge at Nehru Kund (Bahang) completed with INR 6.44 crore, linking the Burwa and Shanag link roads. Additionally, projects like the INR 7.83 crore Eco-Friendly Market in Marhi Tehsil, Manali, and the INR 54 lakh Way Side Amenities at Solangnalla were inaugurated.
Sukhu underscored the transformative impact these initiatives would have on both local residents and tourists, projecting them as pivotal milestones for the Kullu district’s development. Highlighting the state’s economic progress, Sukhu declared a 20 per cent improvement within just one year.
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Himachal Pradesh had witnessed an influx of 30 thousand tourist vehicles in the past couple of days, signaling a promising revival of the tourism industry in the state, informed Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. He commended public representatives and officers for their contributions in this task and emphasised the role of tourism revenue in the state’s economy.
The Chief Minister said that the present state government is committed to promote tourism in the state as it has allocated a substantial INR 3 thousand crore budget to the tourism sector, a significant increase from the earlier INR 50 crore. He expressed gratitude for the support received from children, all sections of the society and tourists in the state’s recovery from the disaster.
He said that the state government has granted the permission for all restaurants, dhabas and food shops in the state to remain open 24 hours from December 20, 2023 to January 5, 2024 to facilitate the people visiting the state.
Chief Minister was speaking during the inauguration of the first-ever ‘Shimla Winter Carnival’. The event started with a cultural parade and the participation of 450 women presenting Mahanati, showcasing the talent of self-help groups and Anganwadi workers. The carnival, running up to January 5, offers local dishes, laser shows and various cultural programs, contributing to the celebration of Himachal Pradesh’s rich cultural heritage.
The envisioned 1.1-kilometer aerial ropeway, boasting an estimated budget of INR 76.50 crore, aims to redefine connectivity and accessibility to the site. Chief Minister Sukhu shared his enthusiasm, highlighting the ropeway’s capacity to ferry 700 passengers per hour in each direction. Beyond enhancing the pilgrim experience, the project is envisioned to generate substantial employment opportunities for the local youth.
The Chief Minister said that the Winter Carnival in Shimla is a historic moment for the city, which will last upto January 5 next year and it aims to boost tourism activities in the state. He recalled how the recent monsoon fury had adversely affected Himachal Pradesh’s tourism sector, but due to the efforts of his cabinet colleagues and different departments, the state has recovered from this setback, shared Sukhu. The Chief Minister also inaugurated the exhibition on the Ridge, featuring stalls set up by the District Administration Shimla and various departments.
Cultural programmes including Kullavi Nati and Singtu of Sirmaur district were also presented on the occasion.
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The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has taken up 321 NHs projects in a length of about 8,544 km and amounting to INR 1,49,758 crore for improvement of important tourist / religious connectivity.
Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari said that the Ministry is primarily responsible for development and maintenance of National Highways (NHs). The development of NHs is carried out after network planning on PM Gati Shakti principle with the whole of the government approach.
While planning the development, important economic, tourist and religious connections are invariably taken up with special focus on Way Side Amenities (WSAs), adequate signages and road side / median beautifications and more. Thus, there is no requirement of dedicated funding / scheme for development of tourist / religious destinations, the minister stated during his Lok Sabha session.
During his address, Prime Minister Modi underscored the city’s burgeoning appeal as a hub of faith and tourism, citing the escalating number of tourists visiting Kashi Vishwanath Dham, exceeding the count of 13 crore devotees. Emphasising domestic tourism, he reiterated his call to explore 15 domestic destinations before contemplating international travel, expressing contentment in witnessing the populace embracing domestic travel.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has undertaken several projects across various states and union territories aimed at enhancing connectivity to important tourist and religious destinations. In Andaman & Nicobar Islands, 2 projects worth 540 cr are underway, while Andhra Pradesh has 5 projects covering INR 2,588 crore. Arunachal Pradesh sees 7 projects totaling INR 7,648 crore rupees, while Assam has 9 projects for INR 1,861 crore. Ladakh has 8 projects aiming for INR 2,368 crore. Other states include Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand and more.
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