Kenya is preparing to host the 4th Global Tourism Resilience Day Conference and Expo in February 2026, positioning Nairobi as a focal point for global tourism policy, resilience planning and investment dialogue.
The three-day international conference, scheduled for 16–18 February 2026, will be held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC). Organisers expect participation from tourism ministers, senior policymakers, global industry executives, investors, innovators and development partners representing key tourism markets worldwide.
The conference is being convened by the Government of Kenya, through the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, in partnership with the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC).
In an official statement, Kenya’s Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife said hosting the conference reflects the country’s “growing responsibility in shaping sustainable and resilient tourism policy at both regional and global levels,” adding that resilience has become a core pillar of long-term tourism development and competitiveness.
The 2026 conference will be held under the theme:
“Tourism Resilience in Action: From Crisis Response to Impactful Transformation.”
Discussions will centre on how global tourism systems can anticipate, withstand and recover from shocks arising from climate change, pandemics, geopolitical instability and economic disruptions.
Origins
The Global Tourism Resilience initiative was championed by Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, who founded the GTRCMC and successfully advanced the recognition of Global Tourism Resilience Day at the United Nations.
Bartlett has repeatedly stated in international forums that “tourism’s future depends on its ability to anticipate disruption, adapt quickly and transform sustainably,” a position that has influenced resilience-focused tourism policies across multiple regions.
With tourism resilience increasingly shaping global policy agendas and investment flows, analysts say Kenya’s hosting of the 2026 conference elevates Nairobi’s status as a strategic global convening hub.
A regional tourism analyst familiar with the preparations noted that Nairobi’s selection “signals strong confidence in Kenya’s institutional capacity and reinforces Africa’s role in shaping global tourism governance.”
As the tourism industry navigates an era of heightened uncertainty, Nairobi 2026 is expected to play a defining role in steering global tourism beyond crisis response toward inclusive, sustainable and long-term transformation.
