KNBS: average inbound tourist spends KES 19,306 a day in Kenya; West Africans top accommodation spend

Visitors from West Africa spent an average of KES 10,410 a day on accommodation in Kenya, more than any other group, according to a Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) inbound tourism expenditure survey reported by Business Daily on 14 October 2026. A second Business Daily report, on 12 October, put the average inbound tourist's total spending at KES 19,306 a day.

At the Central Bank of Kenya's rate of KES 129.81 to the US dollar on 15 October, and the China Foreign Exchange Trade System's central parity of 6.7313 yuan to the dollar on 12 October, KES 10,410 is about US$80 (about 540 yuan) and KES 19,306 about US$149 (about 1,000 yuan).

West Africa was followed on accommodation by North Africa at KES 8,627 a day. Both were ahead of visitors from Switzerland (KES 7,779), the United Kingdom (KES 7,511) and the United States (KES 7,177).

By purpose of visit, travellers in transit spent an average of KES 8,233 a day on accommodation, just ahead of those attending meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) at KES 8,198. Business and professional visitors spent KES 6,565, and holidaymakers KES 5,630.

The survey is conducted at the end of the trip, after the traveller has completed the stay. Business Daily's 12 October report gave results for two months, December 2024 and June 2025.

Hotels were the most used form of accommodation, at 52.1 per cent of visitors. Staying with friends or relatives accounted for 25.6 per cent, vacation rentals including Airbnb 9.6 per cent, lodges 9.4 per cent, apartments 5.4 per cent and campsites 2.9 per cent.

Kenya recorded 11.56 million hotel bed-nights in 2025, up from 10.26 million in 2024, an increase of 12.7 per cent. The contribution of accommodation and food services to gross domestic product rose to 1.7 per cent in 2025.

On total daily spending, the 12 October report said the biggest spenders in June 2025 were visitors from New Zealand at KES 78,095 (about US$602, or 4,050 yuan), followed by the US at KES 60,141 (about US$463, or 3,120 yuan) and Australia at KES 48,230. Visitors from the East African Community (EAC) spent least, at KES 7,130.

In December 2024, New Zealand again led at KES 39,771 a day. West Africa followed at KES 30,820 and Canada at KES 29,714. The lowest were again EAC visitors, at KES 8,090.

Overall, by country of residence, New Zealand came first at KES 47,755 a day, then the US at KES 40,355 and Canada at KES 29,473. EAC residents were lowest at KES 7,631.

Package tours drew far higher spending than trips arranged individually. In December 2024 the daily average was KES 40,702 for package tours and KES 10,883 for non-package trips. In June 2025 it was KES 49,444 against KES 8,796. Across the two months, the averages were KES 43,879 for package tours and KES 10,119 for non-package trips.

Tourist expenditure is a central part of inbound tourism because it reflects the actual economic impact of visitors, KNBS said, as quoted by Business Daily. The level and pattern of spending depend on factors such as purpose of visit and length of stay, the bureau said.

The State Department for Tourism has reported record sector earnings of KES 564 billion for the year to June 2026, counting domestic and international visitors. International arrivals in that year were 2.79 million, narrowly short of the department's target of 2.8 million.