Kenya earned an extra Sh20 billion through tourism in 2017, signalling hope that the once ailing sector is returning to stability.

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The Tourism Ministry reported Thursday that total earnings running to the end of the month of December 2017 grew to Sh119.9 billion up from Sh99.69 billion in 2016 within the same period.

The ministry attributed the growth to the political stability currently experienced in the country after a long electioneering period where Kenyans held two presidential elections.

President Uhuru Kenyatta said after the release of the figure that the growth signifies the confidence foreign tourists attach to East And Central Africa's largest economy.

"Our tourism sector defied the long electioneering period last year to post Sh120 billion revenue compared to Sh99 billion in 2016. This represents a 20.3 percent growth in earnings, and a confirmation of the sector's resilience and robust growth strategy," Uhuru said.

Latest statistics released by the Tourism ministry show that international tourist arrivals increased by 9.8 percent to 1.4 million from the previous year’s 1.3 million with the United States of America (USA) remaining Kenya’s leading market, growing by 17 percent with 114,507 arrivals.

“We look forward to the direct Kenya Airways direct flights that start in October to boost arrivals," Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala said of the growth at a press conference in Nairobi.