Nairobi Hosts Major Global Summit Putting Tourism Resilience at Heart of Policy
Kenya's capital this week became the focal point for one of the most important conversations shaping the future of travel worldwide. The 4th Global Tourism Resilience Day, Conference and Expo officially opened at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, drawing senior government figures, policymakers, and industry leaders from across Africa, the Caribbean, and further afield.
The event got off to a powerful start when Prof. Kithure Kindiki, Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya, led the opening ceremony on Monday morning. His presence at the podium sent an unmistakable message — tourism is no longer viewed as a side conversation in national development. It sits firmly at the centre of how countries plan for stability, economic recovery, and long-term growth.
Joining the Deputy President on stage were Rebecca Miano, Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife, and Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica's Minister of Tourism, who is also the Founder and Co-Chair of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC). Bartlett has been a driving force behind the global push to treat tourism resilience not as an abstract idea but as a practical necessity. Also delivering remarks were Prof. John Okumu, Acting Vice Chancellor of Kenyatta University, and Prof. Lloyd Waller, Executive Director of the GTRCMC.
The timing of this gathering could hardly be more relevant. Destinations around the world continue to face a complex web of threats, from climate shocks and health emergencies to economic instability and geopolitical tensions. For African nations, where tourism often represents a lifeline for communities and a major source of foreign exchange, the ability to absorb and bounce back from these disruptions is not optional — it is essential.
The opening day wasted no time moving from ceremony to substance. The first major panel, titled Resilience Policy in Practice, brought together ministers and regional policymakers to examine how governments are turning resilience frameworks into real, workable tourism strategies. Alongside Miano and Bartlett, the session featured Denay Jock Chagor of South Sudan and other voices from the region, ensuring the discussion reflected the diverse realities facing African destinations.
As the day progressed, the focus shifted toward the practical side of resilience — implementation and financing. Sessions explored how local destinations can build their own resilience capacity, how investment can be mobilised to support vulnerable tourism economies, and how crisis response systems can be strengthened before disasters strike rather than after. The overarching theme was clear: the sector must move beyond simply reacting to crises and instead pursue meaningful, lasting transformation.
The formal proceedings had been set in motion the evening before, when a welcome reception and opening dinner at the KICC brought together tourism ministers from Jamaica, Angola, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, along with delegates, speakers, and exhibitors. Cabinet Secretary Miano used the occasion to frame the Nairobi gathering as a call to shift resilience thinking from concept to concrete action, urging leadership that is steady, inclusive, and forward-looking. Bartlett, in his own brief address, highlighted the deeply human side of the resilience conversation, reminding guests that behind every disruption are livelihoods, families, and communities that depend on tourism to survive.
Day one wrapped up with cultural performances and an expo walkthrough, giving delegates a chance to connect with solution providers while experiencing Kenya's rich cultural heritage firsthand — a fitting reminder that resilience and identity go hand in hand.
For Africa's travel trade, the Nairobi conference carries a message that deserves close attention. The days when resilience planning was seen as something for governments and academics alone are fading fast. Today, every professional who packages tours, books flights, or manages accommodation needs to understand how climate adaptation, crisis preparedness, and sustainable investment will reshape the products they sell and the destinations they promote. Kenya's willingness to host and champion this conversation at the highest political level positions the continent not just as a participant in the global resilience agenda, but increasingly as its leader.
