Kenya and a coalition of African and Caribbean nations have committed to embedding tourism resilience into long-term policy and financing frameworks with the adoption of the landmark Nairobi Declaration that calls for the establishment of regional tourism resilience funds to help destinations withstand future shocks.
Adopted during the commemoration of Global Tourism Resilience Day in Nairobi, the declaration signals a shift away from ad hoc crisis response towards structured investment in climate adaptation, risk management and inclusive growth. It is the first time the United Nations-designated day has been officially celebrated on African soil.
Under the theme “Tourism Resilience in Action: From Crisis Response to Impactful Transformation”, the three-day event gathered leaders from Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan and Angola for discussions in a summit focused on preparing destinations for disruptions ranging from pandemics and extreme weather events to cyber threats and geopolitical instability.
Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano said resilience must be treated as a core pillar of tourism development rather than an emergency response.
“Africa cannot afford to build tourism growth on foundations of hope and reactive responses. We must embed resilience into our policy architecture, infrastructure investments, workforce training and community protection systems.”
She called for the establishment of structured financing frameworks and resilience funds to support vulnerable destinations heavily reliant on tourism. “When tourism collapses under crisis, it is not just visitor numbers that fall; it is workers’ salaries, families’ survival and entire communities’ dignity,” Miano noted.
A key outcome of the summit was the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Kenya and Jamaica to deepen collaboration under the Kenyatta University-based Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre – Eastern Africa. The agreement includes support for the development of an AI-powered tourism crisis detection and forecasting tool and it formally brings Kenya’s Tourism Regulatory Authority into the rollout of resilience interventions.
South Sudan’s Minister of Tourism and Wildlife Denay Jock Chagor sought to reframe perceptions of his country often associated with conflict.
“South Sudan is known for much more,” he said, pointing to what he described as the largest animal migration on earth. “When you prepare for resilience, you prepare every family and every community. Once that is prioritised by government, it prepares the entire country for any national disaster.”
Angola’s Secretary of State for Tourism Augusto Kalikemala outlined how his country’s National Development Plan 2023-2027 positions tourism as a pillar for diversifying an economy historically dependent on oil.
“Going to tourism as a way of diversifying the economy is also a way to bring resilience,” he said. Kalikemala stressed the importance of clear policies, legal obligations and cross-sectoral strategies to attract private investment and create predictable, long-term frameworks. “Policies should create a conducive environment for private-sector investment while ensuring sustainability and standards,” he added.
