There are many opportunities available to countries to showcase their strengths and uniqueness in leadership, classic chances of garnering influence, forging partnerships, closing bilateral and multilateral agreements and overall and demonstrating soft power. These may present themselves as glamorous yet they are responsibilities that can easily embarrass countries if they fail in bids or do not effectively take up their roles in serving the communities or members that they represent. On the positive side these opportunities give states an opportunity to be part of influencing global conversations and agenda.
Kenya is known for its podium finishers athletes especially in marathons, more recently sweeping the podium at the Tokyo marathon and is perhaps the country that presents the most elite runners year after year. Kenyan flowers have graced many homes abroad and during the pandemic were sent to UK hospitals as a demonstration of care cementing the long-lasting relationship Kenya has with the UK. Kenya’s national carrier has retained its image as the pride of Africa. Kenya’s coffee and tea is a favorite in many homes and restaurant locally and abroad. In tourism, Kenya is known for her white sandy beaches , home to top beach destination Diani, authentic safari, adventure, a rich culture, and history and is custodian of several UNESCO heritage sites. These are some of the strengths that have softened the ground for Kenya to market tourism which is a pillar of Kenya’s economy.
Recently , Kenya got an opportunity to take leadership in the UN Tourism (formerly United Nations World Tourism Organization – UNWTO) committees which are part of the organisation’s governing arms besides the Secretariat, the executive council, and the regional bodies. Kenya expressed interest in chairing the UN Tourism committee on Tourism and Competitiveness. This is in addition to Kenya’s membership in the Sustainability and Budget committees.
Leading a delegation to navigate the country to the top of elective positions that involve the interests of various countries is a daunting task. Some of these don’t avail a lot of the time to prepare and meet all those whose vote you may want to influence .However, there are those areas that require deliberate effort, there is a need to prepare thoroughly and understand the competition because all other countries express their interest with the intention to win. When one is pitching, the strengths must be spelt out very clearly and convincingly, a careful balance of various intrigues, including the facts at hand, the tone of voice , body language and sense of influence among other issues.
While it may seem that Kenya is known more for wildlife and beach as some of the areas for a reason to be entrusted with this role, it is the unique areas of demonstrable lead that led to a win. Kenya has adopted sustainable tourism practices to preserve the environment, support local communities, and meet the expectations of eco-conscious travelers. Kenya has introduced electric cars in select the national parks and banned the use of non-reusable plastics within parks. On innovation and Technology, Kenya has embraced technology to enhance visitor experiences, streamline services, and stay ahead of industry trends. All visitors to Kenya except for the countries exempted can access the e-citizen for the electronic travel application(eTA) and use the same application to access payment to key tourism attractions like parks and museums. Diverse tourism offering , concerted efforts in marketing the destination , capacity building and demonstrable crisis management as well as Kenya’s readiness to exchange knowledge with other countries .
As part preparation, prior networking and lobbying are an integral part of the process to securing desired seats. While not much time may be available depending on the level of responsibility, the deliberate effort outside the voting room will count during the actual exercise. It is important to maintain transparency and integrity as part of enhancing the credibility of the bid keeping in mind the long – term impact and benefits of the bid. Many government experts have successfully secured leadership positions for the country, some of them are experienced diplomats who have mastered every step. It is important to consult them as part of minimizing any missteps. We must remember that the possibility of loss is a burden to the leader of the delegation or the candidate nominated for a position that is supported by the government.
A successful bid needs to be publicized as part of raising awareness and highlighting the country’s capabilities and vantage points in the particular area of expertise and use this to leverage diplomatic ties and use the platform to exchange knowledge. I had the singular honor recently to be appointed by the Cabinet Secretary , Tourism and Wildlife to lead the bid for Kenya to Chair the UN Tourism Committee on Tourism and Competitiveness (2023 – 2027) which was successful.
Countries are continually seeking global recognition. The recent win for Kenya as Chair of UN Tourism Committee on Tourism and Competitiveness was one more feather on Kenya’s. By strategically leveraging the win, Kenya can amplify her impact and unlock additional opportunities for growth, development, and global recognition in the tourism sector. When we get a chance to stand up for Kenya at the global stage, we must go all out ,we have so much to be proud of and we don’t have a country B, Kenya is what we have!
The Writer, Ms. Wausi Walya is a Communications professional in the tourism sector and a PhD Candidate (International Relations)
