New life beckons for Lake Victoria

"We are witnessing a noticeable rise in Chinese visitors at Sarova Imperial, a clear sign of growing international interest in Kisumu and the wider Lake Victoria region, which is prompting us to adjust our offerings to better meet their expectations," Mwangi says.

Abhishek Sharma, general manager of Acacia Hotel in Kisumu, says the ongoing upgrades of the Kisumu International Airport could see growing demand for premium experiences tied to the lake for guests who take direct and chartered flights.

The Kenyan government has initiated works on a runway extension, construction of a modern cargo terminal with cold storage to support fish exports, and improved air traffic and operational systems.

Sharma says Acacia Hotel has established an independent travel desk to assist guests who want more than accommodation, conferencing and dining.

"From lake tours to cultural sites ...and tour drives around the neighboring towns, our facility offers a complete and immersive experience for every traveler," he says.

At a regional level, Charles Kataro, CEO of Lake Victoria Tourism Association, underlines the need to tap into the growing interest from Chinese travelers in the region.

"Chinese travelers are increasingly seeking less crowded, experiential destinations, which plays strongly in Western Kenya's favor," Kataro says.

The association has started to capitalize on the Chinese market by collaborating with tour operators and online travel agents, leveraging digital platforms such as Douyin — China's TikTok, introducing familiarization trips for Chinese influencers, and aligning the destination with Belt and Road-related travel narratives.

Kataro, who envisions a bold future for the lake, is also championing the introduction of cruise tourism that would connect Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania into a seamless regional travel circuit.

"Lake Victoria can become a regional tourism hub," he says, imagining a lake that no longer divides borders but links experiences across them.

That vision is beginning to take shape, with the Kenya Tourism Board working with stakeholders to co-create new strategies of promoting the region, from city hotels in Kisumu to island lodges scattered across the lake's vast waters.

Board member Victor Shitakha says cruise tourism is expected to spark activity across key ports, including Kisumu; Tanzania's Mwanza, Musoma and Bukoba; and in Uganda, Entebbe, Port Bell and Jinja.

For Malcolm Ormiston, founder of WaterBus, which connects more than 10 communities across the lake region through flexible routes, the network is expected to expand as demand grows.

"Offering improved rural transport, ensuring fast, safe and comfortable journeys, the service carries more than 1 million people per year," Ormiston says, adding that the locally built vessels support regional industry.

While the water buses primarily serve as a transport solution, moving passengers and goods between landing sites and islands, the fleet is transforming mobility and tourism across Lake Victoria.

The vessels also offer sunset cruises, island excursions, bird-watching trips and relaxation cruises, opening up new opportunities in the region.

Operators say the water buses are "the cleanest way to travel the lake", generating 95 percent fewer hydrocarbons per passenger per hour compared with small two-stroke outboard engines commonly used on canoes in commercial passenger operations.

To reshape the urban life of the city, which was founded in 1901,Kisumu identified the lakefront area as a key asset and proposed its development as an extension of the central business district.

Under Governor Anyang' Nyong'o, the Kisumu Lakefront Development Corporation was established to drive this transformation, guided by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme.

By turning the waterfront into an accessible and visually striking public space, Lake Victoria is fast becoming Kisumu's defining asset, recasting the city as a modern waterfront hub where nature, tourism and commerce converge.