More than 10,000 delegates from 40 countries are expected to attend the 16th Magical Kenya Travel Expo (MKTE) 2026, scheduled from October 6 to October 8, 2026, at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi. The event will feature over 400 exhibitors and more than 250 quality-vetted international buyers, reinforcing MKTE’s status as East Africa’s leading travel trade event.
The delegate number represents a 30% increase from 7,691 attendees in the MKTE 2025 edition, reflecting growing confidence in Kenya’s tourism sector. Kenya aims to attract 5 million international visitors by the end of 2027, underpinning the country’s strategic focus on tourism growth.
MKTE
2026’s theme is “Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence: Shaping the Future of Tourism,” highlighting innovations including AI, big data, immersive technologies, digital payments, and smart destination tools. There will be special emphasis on the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) sector, a key pillar for expanding tourism revenue.
Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) CEO June Chepkemei said, “Every element of this year’s MKTE programme, from the buyer selection to the seminar agenda, is informed by data and consumer demand intelligence.” She emphasized that marketing campaigns domestically and internationally are built on visitor interest evidence and that MKTE brings those insights to
life for partners.
Tour Operators Society of Kenya Chair Raymond Cheruiyot remarked that government reforms easing visa access and expanding air connectivity have created a strong foundation for tourism growth. He noted MKTE as a vital platform to showcase Kenya’s diverse tourism offering and to build strategic partnerships internationally.
Kenya MICE Association Chair Duncan Muriuki described MICE as the next frontier for growing tourism revenue, emphasizing the focus on attracting high-value business events that bring greater economic impact. The Kenya MICE Club is collaborating with government and private sector partners to develop competitive bidding packages, including destination incentives for business
events.
The expo program includes seminars, business-to-business meetings, and familiarisation trips designed to strengthen trade connections among tourism stakeholders. It also addresses technology’s role in smart destination management to enhance Kenya’s competitiveness as a tourism destination.
Public-private partnerships remain a key driver of Kenya’s tourism sector, with close collaboration between government and industry stakeholders shaping marketing, programming, and policy reforms aimed at boosting visitor arrivals and tourism revenue.
