Nairobi Declaration on Tourism Resilience in Nairobi: five countries signed a framework for faster recovery

Nairobi Declaration on Tourism Resilience: five countries signed a framework for “crisis-ready tourism”

In Nairobi, a document was adopted in mid-February that could mark a new phase of international cooperation in tourism – a sector that brings many countries key revenues, jobs, and foreign exchange, but in recent years has proven particularly vulnerable to shocks. The Nairobi Declaration on Global Tourism Resilience, adopted as part of the 4th conference and expo on the occasion of Global Tourism Resilience Day, is focused on joint risk planning and faster recovery of destinations after crises, from pandemics and climate extremes to cyber threats and supply chain disruptions.

According to statements by the organizers, the document was signed by Kenya and Jamaica, as well as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, and Angola, and was politically “pushed” by a strong message from Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, one of the most visible promoters of the concept of tourism resilience. Bartlett described the declaration as a turning point because, as he states, it shifts the focus from reactive “firefighting” to pre-agreed mechanisms that should enable tourism to stabilize faster and retain jobs when extraordinary circumstances arise.

Why tourism resilience is being pushed to the forefront

Tourism has returned in many markets after the COVID-19 pandemic, but the experience of sudden border closures and the collapse in demand left a lasting lesson: dependence on travel and services can paralyze entire communities in a short time. In addition, other risks are increasingly mentioned – extreme weather events, fires and floods, geopolitical tensions, spikes in energy prices, but also digital threats affecting booking systems and destination reputations. That is precisely why there is growing talk about the need for tourism, as a system, to have business continuity plans and crisis protocols just like the energy sector or the financial sector.

Global Tourism Resilience Day is observed on February 17, after an initiative was adopted at the United Nations level recognizing that date as an annual reminder to states and industry of the obligation to strengthen preparedness. The conference itself in Nairobi was held from February 16 to 18 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), with participation from representatives of governments, industry, academia, and the technology sector.

What the Nairobi Declaration brings

According to available official descriptions, the declaration is conceived as a framework – a kind of roadmap – recommending that states embed tourism resilience into development strategies, public policies, and budget planning. The emphasis is not on a single measure, but on a series of connected actions: from risk assessment and early warning to financial instruments that enable destinations to rebuild infrastructure faster and support small entrepreneurs.

In practice, the document builds on the idea that “crises no longer happen rarely”, but have become an almost permanent state, which is why tourism must build the capacity to adapt. In Nairobi, according to participants’ statements, priority topics included climate change, securing critical infrastructure, digital security, and information management in situations when misinformation spreads via social networks and online platforms and can trigger sudden travel cancellations.

Financing, funds, and the role of the state

One of the most concrete messages of the gathering was that resilience is not just a “nice word” but a cost and an investment: without money for preparation, training, and rapid recovery, each next blow sets destinations back for years. Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife, Rebecca Miano, emphasized in public appearances the need for structured financing and clear support mechanisms, especially in countries where a large share of employment is tied to tourism.

On the other hand, Edmund Bartlett reiterates the idea of a Global Tourism Resilience Fund – an instrument that, in his interpretation, could help countries with limited fiscal capacity finance preparedness and recovery measures, from strengthening crisis management systems to investing in new technologies. In earlier statements, Bartlett also spoke about the possibility of a special tourism levy that would flow into such a fund, but the details and political feasibility of such an idea differ from country to country.

Key points mentioned within the declaration

• Coordinated approach to crisis management – developing common protocols and faster information exchange among countries and institutions.
• Embedding resilience in public policies – linking tourism with national development plans, budgets, and the regulatory framework.
• Financial mechanisms for recovery – ideas about regional resilience funds and incentives for the private sector, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises.
• Digital security and reputational risks – strengthening the protection of data systems and response strategies to online misinformation and cyberattacks.
• Data and technology – using analytics and, according to announcements from the conference, artificial intelligence tools for risk assessments and predicting disruptions.
• Sustainability and inclusiveness – linking resilience with environmental goals and the well-being of local communities that live from tourism.

Why Nairobi matters beyond the declaration itself

This year’s conference also has a symbolic dimension: for the first time, the gathering was organized outside Jamaica, where in previous years it grew around the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC) and a network of partners. Moving the host venue to Kenya is read as a signal of expanding the initiative and strengthening cooperation between Africa and the Caribbean, regions that share a similar tourism structure – strong dependence on international visitors, pronounced seasonality, and sensitivity to external shocks.

The Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi was also a practical choice because Kenya, as one of the most recognizable safari destinations, directly links tourism with nature conservation and the management of protected areas. Hosts emphasized that resilience relates not only to hotels and transport, but also to the broader ecosystem: from local food suppliers to parks, museums, and cultural events that create the destination experience.

Bartlett’s role and the message “from crisis to transformation”

Edmund Bartlett came to Nairobi as Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, but also as one of the founders of the concept of institutional tourism resilience. During the gathering, he emphasized that the “world has entered a period of constant disruptions” and that tourism must be managed as a sector of strategic importance, not as an exclusively market product. In that context, the conference theme – “Tourism Resilience in Action: From Crisis Response to Impactful Transformation” – was set to underscore the need for concrete tools, not only declarative calls for cooperation.

On the margins of the event, Bartlett also received a lifetime achievement award in the field of tourism resilience, which organizers interpret as recognition of his long-running campaign to embed resilience into international policies. Still, it remains to be seen whether ideas about a global fund and standardized protocols will turn into binding instruments or whether the declaration will remain primarily a political signal.

What the declaration could mean for the industry and travelers

For hotel chains, tour operators, and airlines, the declaration is important because it moves toward more predictable rules of the game: clearer procedures for closures and reopenings, harmonized safety criteria, and faster information flows could reduce costs and reputational damage in crises. For small landlords, guides, and family businesses, the key story is access to financing after a shock – from favorable loans to targeted state aid that does not arrive months late.

For travelers, more resilient tourism means fewer sudden cancellations without alternatives, more transparent information about risks, and better coordination in situations such as airport closures or evacuations due to extreme weather. However, experts warn that guest trust is also built long-term: safety standards, communication, and responsible capacity management are equally important, especially in destinations under pressure from “overtourism” during peak seasons.

Next steps: from signature to implementation

The Nairobi Declaration itself does not change things overnight: its value depends on whether states translate it into laws, budget lines, and operational plans. Kenyan institutions state in their releases that the document fits into a broader effort to embed resilience, sustainability, and inclusiveness into national and regional policies. In that sense, continued work on partnership projects will also be important – from training personnel and strengthening statistics to introducing technological solutions for risk monitoring.

Organizers also announced that the next observance of Global Tourism Resilience Day will be held in Málaga on February 17, 2027, suggesting that the initiative is gaining an increasingly international calendar. Whether Nairobi becomes a model that other regions will copy will depend on how quickly the signatories show measurable results: faster recoveries, fewer job losses, and more resilient local value chains when the next crisis knocks on the door.

Sources:
- Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife of Kenya – official announcement and information about the 4th Global Tourism Resilience Day, Conference and Expo (KICC, Nairobi) (link)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kenya – release on the Nairobi Declaration and international partnerships (link)
- Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC) – conference and expo info pack (PDF) with dates and program framework (link)
- United Nations (Permanent Mission of Jamaica) – text of the statement accompanying the resolution establishing Global Tourism Resilience Day (February 17) (PDF) (link)
- Jamaica Tourist Board – release on Jamaica’s participation and Minister Bartlett’s messages on tourism resilience (link)