Kenya plans to use the 2029 World Athletics Championships as a major platform to promote sports tourism and attract more international visitors to the country.
Principal Secretary in the State Department for Tourism Julius Bitok said the government will leverage the global athletics showcase to market Kenya as a premier tourism destination while highlighting its beaches, wildlife and other attractions.
Bitok said the championships will bring thousands of visitors to Kenya and provide an opportunity to expose the country’s tourism potential to a global audience.
“As we speak right now, Kenya receives about 2.7 million tourists annually and has set a target of reaching 5.5 million visitors by 2028 because of the World event,” said Bitok.
He said the international exposure generated by the championships would help position Kenya as a leading destination for sports tourism and contribute to the growth of the tourism sector.
“The government believes the international exposure generated by athletics will help position Kenya as a leading destination for sports tourism while promoting its beaches, wildlife and other tourist attractions. The World Athletics Championships will provide an important platform to accelerate Kenya’s tourism growth and help the country achieve its 2028 target,” he said.
Bitok said Kenya is banking on the championships to increase international tourism and help the country achieve its target of attracting 5.5 million visitors annually.
“Kenya’s successful bid to host the championships marks a major milestone for both the country and the African continent. The championships will be the first time the global athletics event is held in Kenya and Africa,” he said.
He described the World Athletics Championships, alongside the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games, as one of the world’s major sporting events.
The Principal Secretary said Kenya expects a significant number of international visitors during the championships, creating an opportunity to showcase the country’s diverse tourism attractions.
“World Athletics Championships will play a key role in helping the country achieve that target,” Bitok said.