Kenya is set to celebrate UN World Tourism Week from September 23 to 27, 2024, with Kisumu County hosting the event.
Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano announces that Kenyans will enjoy free access to all national parks and reserves on Saturday, September 28, as part of the festivities. This initiative aims to encourage domestic tourism and showcase Kenya’s natural heritage. The announcement coincides with World Rhino Day, celebrated on September 22, with this year’s theme being “Keep the Five Alive.” Miano has lauded Kenya’s significant role in rhino conservation, noting that the country hosts 80 percent of the eastern black rhino subspecies. These rhinos are distributed across eight national parks, including the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Sera Community Conservancy, and five private sanctuaries in the Laikipia region.
Miano emphasizes the importance of rhino conservation in supporting local communities and aligning with the government’s Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda. She assures the global community of Kenya’s commitment to wildlife conservation, particularly focusing on rhino range expansion and protection. The government has developed laws and policies to secure wildlife resources, including the adoption of international agreements such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
The UN World Tourism Week celebrations in Kisumu will showcase the county’s tourism potential and cultural heritage. Various activities are planned to promote tourism development in the western region of Kenya. This event provides an opportunity for county leadership, stakeholders, and national tourism players to explore and unlock the untapped tourism potential of Kisumu and the larger western Kenya tourism circuit. Globally, the 44th edition of World Tourism Week will be hosted in Tbilisi, Georgia, under the theme “Tourism and Peace.” Beyond highlighting leisure opportunities, the event in Kisumu aims to position the city as a hub for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE).
Miano praises Kisumu’s unique offerings for domestic tourism and emphasizes its special place in Kenya’s national tourism master plan. As Kenyans prepare to take advantage of the free park access, there is a strong emphasis on responsible tourism. Visitors are encouraged to adhere to the established code of conduct during their park visits to ensure the sustainable enjoyment and protection of these natural treasures.
