Kenya’s commitment to supporting the UN Tourism’s growth and sustainability agenda underscores the importance of tourism as a significant economic activity globally.
With tourism being the world’s fifth-largest export earning category as of 2022, it serves as a crucial driver of economic development and job creation in many countries.
At the 121st session of the UN Tourism Executive Council in Barcelona, Spain, chaired by Saudi Arabia’s Minister for Tourism, Ahmed Al Khateeb, Kenya emphasized the need for enhanced collaboration and resource mobilization to strengthen the organization.
This call for collaboration comes at a critical time, as the tourism sector faces challenges posed by global economic strains, including those brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Global tourism is recovering fully from the effects of the pandemic and many destinations are getting past the mark of the pre – Covid era.
The world is alive to the gains of the tourism sector and Kenya is aligned to tap in other global trends” Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua, who sent a delegation to Barcelona, said.
Kenya’s commitment to collaborating closely with the UN Tourism and member states underscores its dedication to ensuring that tourism remains a vital economic driver globally.
To achieve this goal, Cabinet Secretary Mutua emphasized the importance of exploring innovative funding mechanisms and forging partnerships with other UN agencies and the private sector.
Kenya intends to capitalize on various UN Tourism programs, including capacity building, community-based tourism, artificial intelligence, innovation, education, and product promotion.
By leveraging these initiatives, Kenya aims to enhance its tourism sector’s competitiveness and sustainability while contributing to broader global tourism objectives.
In addition, Mutua highlighted the need to address issues such as regularizing the election cycle and ensuring compliance with membership fees. These measures are essential for providing predictable budgeting and financing, enabling the UN Tourism to effectively support regional workshops and initiatives.
As the chair of the Committee on Tourism and Competitiveness until 2027, Kenya seeks to leverage global data, research, case studies, and partnerships to enhance both global and national tourism policies and strategies.
Furthermore, Kenya aims to ensure that the interests and needs of African and developing countries are adequately represented on the global tourism stage.
Kenya’s election to chair the UN Tourism’s Committee on Tourism Competitiveness until 2027 reflects its leadership and commitment to advancing tourism development.
The country’s participation in joint meetings, such as the upcoming Africa talks in Zambia in July 2024, further demonstrates its proactive approach to fostering cooperation and collaboration within regions.
