By Anderson Ojwang
The growth and development of Kenya’s tourism industry is not complete without mentioning the contribution of the country’s iconic Kenya Utalli College (KUC).
Kenya Utali College has been pivotal in the production of competent human resource that have met the dynamic and changing trends in the service industry.
With Kenya’s tourism sector earnings are expected to jump to 650 billion shillings ($5 billion) this year from 452.2 billion shillings last year, Kenya Utali College remains a pillar in the sector’s growth.
The 2024 earnings were up 20 percent compared with a year earlier, joining the league of tea exports and remittances as Kenya’s major foreign exchange earners.
This has subsequently resulted in the immense growth with a 23 percent increase in domestic bed nights and a 43 percent increase in hotel bed occupancy.
Similarly, International tourism also increased by 60 percent, with a 1 million increase in the number of international visitors, enhancing tourism earnings to sh184.11 billion.
Tourism Principal Secretary, John Lekakeny Ololtuaa, said prior to the advent of COVID-19, the sector contributed nearly 10 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) but this dipped to its lowest levels.
However, he said the industry has picked up again and that things are looking up as the sector is well on the track to recovery.
Globally, international tourists’ arrivals grew by 34 per cent in 2023 as compared to 2022, representing an 88 per cent recovery rate of pre-pandemic numbers, as Africa recovered 96 per cent to the pre–COVID pandemic levels
The growth has created jobs in the hospitality industry, with 73 percent more graduates from the Kenya Utalii College employed within the country and abroad.
KUC, the country’s premier hospitality and tourism training institution, founded in 1975, has been pivotal in the growth of the tourism industry not only in Kenya but East and Central Africa and Africa at large.
Kenya Utalii College is a globally recognized and transformative premier Tourism and Hospitality training center. The College is the premier UNWTO-accredited hospitality and tourism training institution and gateway to an international career.
The country’s towering giant, Kenya Utali College, is credited for the transformation of the country’s illustrious multi-billion shillings tourism economy through the production of competent Human resources to meet both local and international market demands.
The college has trained over 60,000 graduates from around the world who serve in the local and international hospitality and tourism industry.
The college offers a wide range of courses accredited by the Tourism Education Quality (TEDQUAL) certification body and authorized by the International Air Travel Agency (IATA).
Kenya Utalii College was established through a partnership between the Governments of Kenya and Switzerland. Since its inception in 1975, the college has continuously evolved its curricula to meet the changing needs of the hospitality and tourism industry. The initial curricula were Swiss-based, offering four-year diploma programs and two-year certificate programs.
Mr. Isaack Mwaura, the government spokesperson, recently said Kenya Utali College has contributed to the production of competent human resource who have enhanced service in the hospitality industry.
“Skills development within the hospitality sector has also increased as the number of visitors to national parks and game reserves increased to 6.258 million,” he said.
Mwaura said the development in the tourism sector has created jobs, with 73 percent more graduates from the Kenya Utalii College employed within the country and abroad..
He said the country has witnessed a notable surge from1.483 million international visitors in 2022 to 2.086 million in 2023, representing an impressive growth of 31.5 per cent. In the same year 2023, inbound tourism earnings grew up to Sh352.54 billion compared to Sh268.09 billion in 2022 indicating a growth of 31.5 per cent.
Data from Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) shows that Kenya’s tourism industry reported significant growth in the first six months of 2024, with revenue reaching Sh142. 5 billion with the country receiving 1,027,630 international visitors, marking a 21.3 per cent increase from the same period in 2023.
Kenya is a renowned tourism destination in the world, with its expansive sandy beaches at the coast and diverse wildlife which attracts millions of tourists to the country each year.
This makes tourism in Kenya the second-largest source of foreign exchange earner, only second to the agriculture sector, which earns Kenya about 70 per cent of her Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
With the new changes in management and leadership KUC will transform into a new outfit to match.
Chairman of the College Council Mr. David Wamatsi is steering a team that will oversee the transformation of the college into a real Center of Excellence to match the globally recognized Cornell University, EHL Leissane, Glion among others.
The new campuses in Kisumu, Kilgoris and Mombasa in Vipingo will attract students from all over the world.
Equally, the institution has taken a bold step in Kenya Utalii College, Steps towards Modernizing its curriculum to meet dynamic and changing industry Trends
“Kenya Utalii College, the country’s premier hospitality and tourism training institution, has recently undergone a comprehensive curriculum review to ensure that it aligns with the latest trends and demands in the hospitality and tourism industry. The review was prompted by the need to keep up with the evolving landscape of the industry, which has been heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Former Alego MP Mr. Sammy Weya said there was need for proactive management and a commitment to excellence, ensuring that Utalii’s training module evolves to meet international standards and equips graduates with the skills demanded by the global hospitality industry.
“International standards have risen, and that Kenya must rise to meet them if it wishes to thrive in the tourism sector,” he said.
