7th Africa Youth in Tourism Summit 2025 Launches in Kenya: Empowering the Next Generation
The 7th Africa Youth in Tourism Summit (AYTIS) 2025 has officially launched, promising to be a landmark event for empowering the next generation of tourism leaders. This summit, supported by key organizations, highlights the growing importance of youth involvement in shaping the future of African tourism. For travel agents, this means tapping into innovative ideas and strategies to attract younger clientele and promote sustainable tourism practices.
The launch event, held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) on January 29, 2025, was a resounding success, drawing over 200 delegates both physically and online. Africa Tourism Partners, alongside the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife Kenya, UN Tourism, AfCFTA, BDO, TEAMS Africa, and Kenya Tourism Board, have joined forces to make this event a catalyst for youth empowerment in the tourism sector. Such collaboration helps promote and sustain the sector.
Hon. Rebecca Miano, Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife, Kenya, emphasized the opportunity for empowerment, innovation, and inclusion that the 7th Africa Youth in Tourism Summit presents. The summit, set to take place in Nairobi from June 10 to 13, 2025, is envisioned as more than just a gathering, but a movement. It will showcase the immense potential of intra-Africa trade in tourism services and highlight the vital role of youth in shaping the future of this industry. This indicates the importance of involving the youth in planning the future of tourism.
Nairobi will host the Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit for the first time, aligning with Kenya’s Youth in Tourism and conservation initiative launched in December 2024. This initiative reflects the Ministry’s commitment to empower young people as innovators, job creators, and leaders in the tourism and conservation sectors. The involvement of the youth in innovation and job creation can provide insights from a different perspective that will benefit the sector.
In addition to the Summit (AYTIS) program, the event will feature desktop exhibitions of youth-led tourism businesses, business-to-business networking opportunities, career guidance, and hosted buyer programs. This wide range of activities demonstrates the commitment to collaboration among tour operators, transport service providers, educational institutions, and technology start-ups. Such partnership help to ensure that the sector continues to innovate.
The 7th Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit and Challenge offers more than just wildlife and beaches, highlighting the continent’s rich cultural heritage, dynamic cities, and diverse experiences. Registrations for participation and challenge entries are now open at https://youthtourismsummit.com. The deadline for challenge submissions is February 28, 2025. This initiative is important for African travel agents who wish to promote the continent’s rich heritage.