MKTE Communications Team

Day Two at MKTE 2025: Spotlight on the Inaugural Africa Tourism Investment Forum #ATIF2025

Day Two of the Magical Kenya Travel Expo (MKTE 2025) and the Africa Tourism Investment Forum #ATIF 2025 was a powerful showcase of leadership, collaboration, and innovation underscoring Kenya’s role at the heart of Africa’s tourism marketplace.

The day opened with the Official Ceremony, graced by Deputy President Hon. Kithure Kindiki and Cabinet Secretary Hon. Rebecca Miano, EGH. The Deputy President highlighted tourism’s role as a pillar of Kenya’s economy, citing a 15% growth in arrivals in 2024, a projected KSh 1.2T contribution to GDP and 1.7M jobs by 2025, while emphasizing bold innovations from astro-tourism to Chalbi desert safaris. The CS noted record participation with 6,500 delegates, 400+ exhibitors, 40 countries, and 10,000+ pre-scheduled meetings, while launching the inaugural Africa Tourism Investment Forum (ATIF 2025) to unlock access to capital for African tourism businesses.

The Ministerial Roundtable brought together policymakers including Mahmoud Muhammed Mussa (Lord Mayor of Zanzibar), Hon. John Ololtuaa (Principal Secretary, Ministry of Tourism & Wildlife, Kenya), Hon. Rizik Zakaria Hassan (Minister of Wildlife Conservation & Tourism, South Sudan), and Ms. Emily Njeri Mburu-Ndoria (AfCFTA Secretariat). Their interventions echoed one theme; reforms in visa openness, mobility, and policy harmonization will shape the next era of African tourism. From Zanzibar’s call to experience culture beyond beaches, to South Sudan’s push for open borders, and AfCFTA’s commitment to investment protocols and sustainable development, the roundtable spotlighted continental alignment as the key to growth.

The Africa Tourism Investment Forum (ATIF) featured two impactful panels:

  • “Investment Opportunities – Gateway to Africa” moderated by Mr. Jeffers Miruka (AFAMCO), with insights from Mr. Emmanuel Treku (Inter Tourism Expo Accra), Aare Abisoye Fagade (Nihotour, Nigeria), Hasnain Noorani (PrideInn Hotels & Resorts), Felix Chege (Real Sources Africa), and Ms. Daria Bagdanova (Versus Consulting Group, online). From packaging Africa’s investment needs better, to tapping cruise tourism and reinventing eco-tourism, panelists stressed intentional leadership and remarketing Africa to Africans.
  • “Intra-African Collaboration in Tourism under AfCFTA” brought together Clara Chinwe Okoro (My Beautiful Africa), Olivia Mukami Wairimu (Ghana Export Promotion Authority), Elleen Kemunto (Kenya National Chamber of Commerce), Emily Njeri Mburu-Ndoria (AfCFTA), Ramy Waheed (Amaryllis Hotels, Malawi), and Kwakye Donkor (Africa Tourism Partners). Their call was clear: Africa must move from competition to collaboration by co-creating seamless multi-country packages, integrating transport and e-visas, unlocking women-owned businesses, and moving beyond safaris to showcase music, culture, and the creative economy.

The day concluded with a tree-planting ceremony at Uhuru Gardens, where ministers, partners, and industry leaders joined hands to reaffirm tourism’s link to sustainability and conservation.

And as evening fell, delegates gathered once again at the ATIF Dinner, networking in a vibrant atmosphere that blended culture, business, and collaboration setting the perfect tone for the days ahead.

Day Two proved that tourism is not just about travel it’s about building economies, communities, and shared prosperity across Africa.