KENYA is assuring international visitors that the country is safe for travel as the government steps up health protocols after the confirmation of its first Ebola case.
But even as the government moved in to allay fears, the US and UK governments issued fresh travel advisories following the confirmation.
The UK government has urged travellers to follow guidance from Kenyan health authorities and check health requirements before travelling.
The US government on the other hand tied the advisory with a vote of confidence in Kenya’s capacity to handle any Ebola-related emergencies.
The new threat to foreign tourism arrivals comes as the government maintains its target of attracting 5.5 million international tourists by 2028.
Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano said the relevant government agencies are working closely to strengthen precautionary measures and ensure the country remains a safe destination.
Miano said the reported Ebola case, involving a Kenyan who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was being treated as “an isolated incident”, with surveillance and response measures having been strengthened.
“We are working closely with the Ministry of Health to activate additional precautions to ensure our country remains a safe destination for visitors,” Miano said during the official opening of the 16th edition of the Magical Kenya Travel Expo (MKTE) in Nairobi.
She said Kenya has a fully-fledged Resilience and Crisis Management Centre for Tourism at Kenyatta University, which will help ensure the sector remains prepared to respond to emerging threats.
“I must also say that we have a fully-fledged Resilience and Crisis Management Centre for Tourism located at Kenyatta University, and at this particular time, no effort and vigilance will be spared to ensure that Kenya continues to remain a safe destination,” she said.
On Wednesday, the US Chargé d’Affaires, Susan Burns, told a media briefing at the Nairobi Embassy that Kenya is well equipped to handle the viral disease, thanks to broad partnership with the US government and health entities.
“We are impressed with how Kenya has handled the matter since registering the first casualty on Tuesday. The country has one of the most advanced isolation facilities and contact tracing capability in the region. Although cautious, the US doesn’t foresee a travel restriction for now,” Burns said.
The US is Kenya’s largest source of tourists, with 306,000 Americans visiting Kenya in 2025.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has also advised against imposing travel or trade restrictions on Kenya, the DRC and Uganda following the reported Ebola case.
WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus said the agency was supporting the three countries with contact tracing, surveillance, screening and other response measures aimed at identifying potential cases and preventing further spread of the virus.
“WHO advises against any restriction of travel to, or trade with, the affected countries based on the currently available information,” Dr Tedros said.
The health concerns have nevertheless placed additional attention on the tourism industry, which is seeking to sustain the strong recovery recorded since the Covid-19 disruption.
Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers chief executive Mike Macharia said the development was a concern for the industry but had not resulted in cancellations.
“Yes, it is of concern to the industry but no cancellations yet. We have confidence in Kenya’s public health response mechanisms and are sure that the situation will be mitigated,” Macharia said.
The government is simultaneously stepping up efforts to expand tourism earnings by using technology, artificial intelligence and product diversification to attract more visitors and increase spending.
Miano said Kenya received 2.7 million international visitors in 2025, generating approximately Sh500 billion, while domestic travellers reached an all-time high of 5.2 million.
The country is now targeting 5.5 million international visitors by 2028.
Globally, international arrivals surpassed 1.5 billion in 2025, with Africa recording about 81 million arrivals.
She said technology would increasingly determine the competitiveness of destinations by helping tourism players understand travellers, identify emerging markets, personalise marketing and anticipate demand.
“This year’s theme, ‘Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence: Shaping the Future of Tourism,’ is especially timely,” Miano said, noting that the expo had attracted participants from more than 40 countries, more than 10,000 delegates and more than 250 vetted international buyers.
The minister said Kenya could no longer rely solely on its traditional wildlife and beach tourism products.
The country is increasingly promoting meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE), sports tourism, adventure, culture, wellness and business travel as part of efforts to diversify its tourism offering.
Miano said the expansion of tourism products should also benefit smaller operators and community conservancies by giving them access to digital platforms and international markets.
“We no longer compete solely on wildlife and beach offerings. Our expanding profile in MICE, sports tourism, adventure, culture, wellness, and business travel is opening new markets and new reasons to visit,” she said.
Principal Secretary for Tourism Julius Bitok said the sector had a bright future, citing government investment in infrastructure and the hosting of major international sporting events.
Kenya is set to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations with Uganda and Tanzania and has won the right to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships.
Bitok said the government expects about one million people to come to Nairobi during the month-long AFCON tournament, presenting opportunities for hotels, restaurants, transport companies, tour operators and other tourism businesses.
However, he said the anticipated influx would require the industry to assess whether Nairobi has sufficient accommodation and infrastructure capacity.
Uganda’s State Minister for Tourism, Susan Nakawuki, also called for stronger regional tourism cooperation, arguing that East African countries could benefit by marketing the region as a single destination.
She urged policymakers to address non-tariff barriers and improve air connectivity within Africa, saying high travel costs and limited regional connections were constraining tourism growth.
