Travellers planning trips to Kenya between April and September 2026 are set to benefit from discounted airfares and enhanced digital payment options under a new partnership involving the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB), Visa and Kenya Airways.
The six-month campaign, which kicks off during the Easter period, is designed to boost both domestic and international tourism by offering incentives to passengers who pay using Visa cards. Customers can access 5% discounts on local Kenya Airways flights and up to 8% off inbound international bookings by applying the promo code “VISAKQ” at checkout.
Beyond price incentives, the initiative reflects a broader strategy to position Kenya more competitively in the global tourism market through data-driven marketing and seamless payment solutions. The collaboration builds on an existing relationship between KTB and Visa aimed at strengthening destination visibility and improving the overall visitor experience.
Speaking at the launch, KTB Chief Executive Officer June Chepkemei said, “This strategic collaboration with Visa and Kenya Airways is aimed at strengthening Kenya’s position as a premier global tourism destination through innovative, data-driven marketing.” She added that the partnership would allow the institutions to jointly roll out targeted campaigns across key source markets by leveraging their collective platforms and expertise.
Chepkemei emphasised that data analytics would play a central role in shaping the campaign’s impact. “A core pillar of the collaboration is the use of data and analytics to inform decision-making and unlock tourism growth. By leveraging Visa’s global insights on travel and spending patterns, KTB and KQ will gain access to destination-specific intelligence that will shape more precise marketing strategies, optimize resource allocation, and enhance competitiveness,” she said.
As part of the wider agreement, Visa is providing KTB with access to its Government Insights Hub, a platform that offers detailed information on traveller behaviour, including spending trends, seasonality and key origin markets. These insights are expected to help refine tourism strategies and support more effective campaign execution.
From Visa’s perspective, the initiative also aims to deepen the use of digital payments across Kenya’s tourism value chain. Michael Berner, Senior Vice President and Group Country Manager for Southern and Eastern Africa, noted, “Kenya is one of Africa’s most vibrant and diverse destinations. Through this collaboration, we are leveraging local insights to craft tailored, practical solutions while empowering SMEs across the tourism value chain with advanced digital payment tools. Entrenching card payments seamlessly across travel touchpoints means convenience for visitors and impactful growth for businesses.”
Kenya Airways says the campaign aligns with its goal of improving customer experience while promoting secure and efficient booking processes. Julius Thairu, the airline’s Chief Commercial and Customer Officer, stated, “At Kenya Airways, we are committed to making travel more accessible, rewarding and seamless for our customers. This campaign, in collaboration with Visa and the Kenya Tourism Board, will run for six months and allows us to offer real value to travellers while encouraging the use of secure digital payments across our booking platforms.”
In addition to the fare discounts, the three partners plan to introduce loyalty programmes and innovative payment solutions aimed at encouraging higher tourism spending. The collaboration will also focus on expanding the adoption of digital payments across key tourism touchpoints, supporting cross-border transactions and improving convenience for visitors.
Through coordinated marketing campaigns targeting priority markets in Africa and beyond, the partners are seeking to drive visitor numbers, boost tourism revenues and reinforce Kenya’s appeal as a leading travel destination.
By: Andrews Kwesi Yeboah