Tourism Regulatory Authority opens 2026 licence applications and renewals
By Kenneth Mwenda, December 18, 2025The Tourism Regulatory Authority (TRA) has opened the online portal for 2026 tourism licence applications and renewals.
All tourism enterprises listed under the Ninth Schedule of the Tourism Act, 2011, must obtain and maintain a valid licence to operate legally in Kenya.
TRA, established under the Tourism Act, No. 28 of 2011, announced on Thursday, December 18, 2025, that tourism operators can apply for or renew their licences through three channels: via a valid e-Citizen account, through the online portal, or by accessing the licensing link.
“The Tourism Regulatory Authority (TRA), established under the Tourism Act, No. 28 of 2011, hereby informs all regulated tourism enterprises and stakeholders that the online licensing portal for 2026 licence applications and renewals is now open,” the notice read.
“All tourism enterprises listed under the Ninth Schedule to the Tourism Act, 2011, are required to obtain and maintain a valid tourism license.”
All applications and payments must be submitted online; manual applications or cash payments will not be accepted. The authority has urged tourism enterprises to apply promptly to avoid interruptions in their operations. For assistance or more information, operators can contact TRA via email or by phone. Regional offices are also available to guide applicants.
Crack down on rogue operators
This move comes after TRA issued warnings to the public earlier in the year about rogue tourism operators. In October 2025, the authority warned travellers to be cautious of unlicensed operators in the Maasai Mara following complaints about fraudulent establishments.
Some operators falsely claimed to run hotels, offered fake jobs, and requested payments for Tourism Health or Food Handlers Certificates. TRA confirmed that these facilities did not exist and advised the public not to make payments or engage with such operators.
TRA also launched enforcement measures targeting unlicensed tour operators and guides. By the time of the October warning, TRA had revoked licences for four companies that failed to meet compliance standards. The crackdown initially focused on the Maasai Mara but later extended to Amboseli, Tsavo, and Kenya’s coastal regions.
TRA Director-General Norbert Talam emphasised the authority’s commitment to protecting the tourism sector, one of Kenya’s top foreign exchange earners.
“We mean business,” he said. “Tourism is one of Kenya’s top foreign exchange earners, yet for too long it has suffered because of poor regulation. That is why we are leaving our boardrooms and going to the ground to act decisively.”
Tourism stakeholders welcomed the authority’s actions. Kennedy Kaunda, CEO of the East Africa Tour Guides Association, said that unlicensed guides undermine professionalism and damage Kenya’s reputation.