Could Kenya increase inbound travel for surrogacy?

There is an opportunity to ramp up surrogacy travel to Kenya, as legislation closes competing markets such as India.

Several Asian nations have enacted harsher surrogacy regulations to restrict surrogacy tourism, the latest being India.

Surrogacy and/or egg donation have proven to be a bonus for individuals who have otherwise failed to conceive naturally. This procedure however needs a great deal of patience, as well as medical and legal understanding, along with a fully-fledged support system.

Intended parents, surrogates, IVF experts, egg donors, and surrogacy agencies that organise the process all have various perspectives.

It is also potential income for agencies, hotels, airlines, lawyers, and local tourist operators.

Indian surrogacy agencies are looking for alternative markets and Kenya is high on the list.  The country has lately emerged as a popular destination for fertility tourism, offering many IVF clinic choices, and is a place where surrogacy services may be obtained at a minimal cost.

Single mothers are a key target source in Kenya, which is crucial for European clients who prefer single or divorced surrogate mothers. The English-speaking country also has strong air connectivity, making it an easily accessible destination.

Kenya’s Ministry of Tourism has projected international arrivals to surpass one million in 2022 as the sector recovers from the effects of Covid-19. A report by the Tourism Research Institute Kenya registered a 53.29% growth in the number of international visitor arrivals, with 870,465 visitors in 2021 as compared to 567,848 in 2020 and over 2 million in 2019.