In the mid-1960s, the post-independent government of the Republic of Kenya embarked on an ambitious tourism development programme. With state investments in hotels and lodges, liberal investment policies for international investors, an official promotional machinery, and the assistance of international experts, tourism became a key element of Kenya’s overall development strategy and efforts in economic modernisation. The origins of this programme can be traced to late-colonial development efforts, as well as the momentum tourism gained during the 1960s as a panacea for world peace and the economic catch-up of developing countries. The initial success of tourism development with annual visitor growth rates of 15% allowed Kenya to transform its colonial economy and established itself as the prime tourist destination in Sub-Saharan Africa, yet a new economic dependency on the international tourist industry dominated by Western corporations, highly competitive and sensitive to a variety of issues, emerged visibly in the global recession of the mid-1970s. Despite mounting challenges and the failure of large development projects, the Kenyan government remained committed to tourism development, as not only the state but Kenya’s political patrons under both Kenyatta and Moi had invested in tourism. The presentation, therefore, frames tourism development not only as a category to analyse Kenya’s economic history but also its postcolonial political regime in a national as well as global context.

Mathias Hack is a doctoral researcher ⁠at Leipzig University. His research interests are the history of European colonialism, global tourism after 1945 and postcolonial Eastern Africa.