The government has invited the private sector to grab over 100 investment opportunities in national parks, reserves, sanctuaries and stations.
Facilities to be put up include eco lodge, tented camps, visitor recreation among others.
On Wednesday, Tourism CS Peninah Malonza unveiled the 122 investments opportunities.
The CS said there are immense opportunities up for grabs even as the sector recovers from shocks.
"The government is committed to diverse tourism development initiatives, aiming to stimulate investment, job growth, consumer spending, tax revenue, and GDP. We emphasise action through strategic partnerships, collaborating with the National Airline, counties, and the private sector to amplify our collective impact," Malonza said.
The World Travel and Tourism Council predicts that tourism in Kenya will make a strong recovery in 2023, contributing 6.7 per cent to the economy, which is around Sh938.8 billion.
This is an 8.6 per cent increase from 2013 and a positive 1.8 per cent growth from 2019.
Malonza said projections suggest that by 2033, tourism could contribute 7.5% (Sh.1.6 trillion) with a steady 5.2% annual growth.
She said the sector plays crucial role in jobs creation as in 2019; it provided 8.6 per cent of employment with 1.56 million jobs.
“The 2023 forecast predicts growth, with an expected 8.6 per cent employment contribution, or around 1.59 million jobs,” she said.
Malonza said even though the sector faced challenges recently, it remains resilient and poised for substantial progress, contributing significantly to the economy.
She said transparency and accountability are foundational principles that underpin investments, creating an environment of honest and ethical competition.
Malonza urged investors to unite with the government to create world-class offerings that make Kenya a premier global tourist destination.
KWS head of Marketing and Business Development Gladys Kosgei said the annual lease rates for premium parks will approximately cost Sh12 million, wilderness (Sh9 million), scenic/ special interest (Sh7 million) and stations (Sh5 million).
She said 12-100 beds are negotiable.
Speaking during an investment forum at KWS headquarters, Kosgei said 122 investment opportunities are up for grabs.
“We have 71 eco lodges/ tented camps and six mountain and climbing huts,” Kosgei said.
Other investments include 10 restaurants, seven shops, one hostel, six Bandas, eight products/experience, 11 open uses, one tree house and one convention centre.
The theme of the forum was 'Invest in Kenya Parks; Where Nature and Communities Meet Opportunities.’
Kosgei said there are six opportunities for eco lodges/ tented camps, one convention centre, two restaurants, one product/ experiences and five open use opportunities bringing the total to 15 within Southern conservation areas.
In Central Rift conservation areas, the available opportunities include six opportunities for eco lodges/ tented camps, two restaurants, two products/experiences, one open use, bringing the total to 11.
Within Tsavo, there are 17 opportunities for eco lodges/ tented camps, one restaurant, four shops, one product/ experience, bringing the total to 22.
In Western conservation area, there are seven eco lodges/ tented camps, one mountain hut, two restaurants, one product/ experience and one tree house, bringing total to 12.
Eastern has 15 opportunities composed of three shops, one hostel, three bandas/guest houses, one product/ experience, bringing total to 22.
Coast has investment opportunities of four eco lodges/ tented camps, one restaurant, one Banda/guest house and three open uses, bringing total to nine.
In Mountain Conservation area, there are 11 eco lodges/tented camps, five mountain huts, one restaurant, two bandas/guest houses, three products/experiences, one open use, bringing the total to 23.
Northern Kenya has five eco lodges opportunities, one restaurant, one product experience and one open use bringing the total to eight opportunities.
Tented camp or eco lodge will be leased for 20 years which is renewable while restaurants/ shops/ experiences have 10 years that is renewable.
Acreage for tented camp or eco lodge is five to 20 acres depending on facility location and terrain while restaurants/ shops/ experience will cover one to five acres.
Tenants will have to insure the premises.
There will be six to 18 months free ground rent for tented camp/ ecolodge while for restaurant/shops and experience will vary depending on facility location.
For the second year, rent is 50 per cent of ground rent while for the third year; rent will be 75 per cent of ground rent.
Kosgei said the rent for the fourth year will be 100 per cent of ground rent.
Rent will however vary depending on facility location, and is payable quarterly in advance.
Kosgei said the variable rent will be 10 USD per night/bed.
She said rest escalation will be four per cent per year.
KWS DG Erustus Kanga said the Service’s Strategic Plan for 2019-2024 targets minimum revenues of Sh12 billion by FY 2024/2025.
“This funding will enable the organisation to competitively position Kenya's parks, diversify tourism offerings, enhance sustainable tourism, and improve visitor experiences in national parks, reserves, and sanctuaries,” Kanga said.
He said KWS is committed to reducing the high impacts of ecological footprints brought by infrastructural infringements into protected areas by extensive planting of indigenous tree species.