Nairobi will take centre stage in the global tourism calendar this February as world tourism leaders converge in Kenya for the 4th Global Tourism Resilience Day, Conference and Expo (GTRDCE), a flagship event positioning Africa at the heart of conversations on crisis preparedness, recovery and sustainable growth.
Scheduled for 16–18 February 2026 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), the conference coincides with the United Nations–designated Global Tourism Resilience Day on 17 February and is expected to draw policymakers, tourism ministers, destination managers, investors, innovators and development partners from across Africa and beyond.
As the tourism industry grapples with mounting pressures – including climate change, geopolitical instability, health emergencies and economic shocks – resilience has become a defining priority for destinations worldwide. GTRDCE 2026 responds to this reality by shifting the focus decisively from theory to practice.
Held under the theme “Tourism Resilience in Action: From Crisis Response to Impactful Transformation”, this year’s conference will spotlight how destinations, enterprises and communities are embedding resilience into tourism planning, investment and operations.
Africa at the centre of the resilience agenda
Since its launch in 2023, Global Tourism Resilience Day and its accompanying conference have grown into a major international platform for policy dialogue and collaboration. The 2026 edition in Nairobi reflects a broader recognition of Africa’s growing leadership role in shaping resilient tourism models.
Kenya’s hosting of the global observance is widely seen as both strategic and symbolic. As one of Africa’s most established and diversified tourism destinations, the country has demonstrated resilience in navigating recent global disruptions, offering lessons in recovery, adaptation and innovation.
For Africa’s tourism sector, the conference presents a timely opportunity to align continental priorities with global resilience frameworks, while showcasing homegrown solutions in community-based tourism, conservation, digital transformation and inclusive growth.
From policy to implementation
The conference opens on Monday, 16 February, with high-level sessions focused on resilience policy, local implementation and investment mobilisation. Discussions will examine how governments and the private sector can strengthen tourism infrastructure, improve crisis communication, build workforce capacity and unlock financing for resilience-driven projects.
According to organisers, the emphasis will be on practical case studies and scalable models that demonstrate how resilience can deliver economic value, protect livelihoods and enhance destination competitiveness.
Global Tourism Resilience Day
The official observance on Tuesday, 17 February will be marked by a keynote address from Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism and Founder and Co-Chair of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC). His address, titled “Many Nations, One Africa – An African Tourism Vision”, is expected to highlight the importance of continental cooperation in building a more resilient global tourism ecosystem.
The day’s programme will also explore the role of data, artificial intelligence and predictive analytics in crisis prevention, alongside breakout sessions dedicated to inclusive resilience. These sessions will highlight the contributions of women, youth and indigenous communities, as well as innovations supporting wildlife conservation and nature-based tourism – areas of growing relevance for African destinations.
Showcasing Kenya and the region
Beyond policy dialogue, the conference provides a platform for Kenya and the wider region to showcase resilience in action. Nairobi’s status as a United Nations hub, combined with the international-standard facilities of the KICC, positions the city as a natural convening point for global tourism discussions.
The event will conclude on Wednesday, 18 February, with immersive field learning experiences to selected resilient tourism sites, including Nairobi National Park and the National Museums of Kenya, offering delegates first-hand insights into how resilience principles are applied on the ground.
GTRDCE 2026 is expected to deliver concrete outcomes, including the launch of a “Resilience in Action” Global Report, progress towards the adoption of tourism resilience indicators, and the strengthening of cross-sector partnerships and funding commitments.
As Africa continues to assert itself as a key player in global tourism, the Nairobi conference is set to reinforce the continent’s voice in shaping a more resilient, inclusive and future-ready tourism industry.
