Kenya to hold an Africa wide Tourism Investment Forum early October
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The Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) and the African Tourism Board (ATB) have joined forces to co-host the inaugural African Tourism and Investment Forum (ATIF) at the Magical Kenya Travel Expo (MKTE) this October. Set to unfold at Nairobi’s iconic Uhuru Gardens National Monument from the 1st to the 3rd of October 2025, the event is expected to draw more than 6,500 delegates from 40 countries worldwide. With over 400 exhibitors and 200 international buyers confirmed, the forum aims to stimulate tourism growth, promote investment and foster strategic partnerships throughout Africa's vibrant tourism sector.
This collaboration marks a strategic milestone in positioning Kenya as a hub for tourism and investment on the continent. The joint leadership will oversee programme coordination, investor engagement, and promotional efforts to amplify the forum’s impact. Kenya’s tourism industry continues to thrive, contributing an anticipated KES 1.2 trillion (equivalent to USD 9.2 billion) to the national economy this year, while supporting 1.7 million jobs. ATB Chairman Cuthbert Ncube alongside KTB CEO June Chepkemei emphasise the forum's role in unlocking Africa’s huge tourism and investment potential.
The forum will spotlight bankable tourism projects, facilitate policy reforms aligned with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and provide a platform where governments, investors, development finance institutions, entrepreneurs and SMEs converge to shape Africa’s tourism future. This initiative exemplifies a commitment to sustainable, inclusive growth and regional integration underpinned by public-private collaboration.
For investors and businesses, ATIF 2025 presents a golden opportunity to engage with a fast-expanding African tourism market ripe with potential in infrastructure, eco-tourism, cultural heritage, hotel development, and digital tourism innovation. The forum offers access to direct investment channels in priority projects demonstrating strong returns, alongside enabling environments emerging from progressive policy reforms. Stakeholders can explore partnerships spanning luxury and community-based tourism ventures, regional connectivity improvements, and technology-driven visitor experience enhancements. This collective effort promises to accelerate sustainable economic growth, job creation and regional competitiveness across the continent.
