Ministers, policymakers, researchers, and private sector executives from around the world convened in Nairobi from February 16 to 18 for the 4th Global Tourism Resilience Day, Conference and Expo, focusing on strategies to strengthen the tourism sector amid climate volatility, geopolitical tensions, and economic uncertainty.
Hosted at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, the summit highlighted the interconnected nature of global tourism, a sector that contributes over 10 percent of global GDP and remains vulnerable to systemic shocks. Speakers emphasized that resilience should go beyond emergency response to encompass climate-adaptive infrastructure, digital transformation, diversified tourism products, sustainable financing models, and cross-border policy coordination. “The future of tourism is not about bouncing back, it’s about building forward,” representatives from the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife said during the opening session, signaling a shift from short-term recovery to long-term transformation.
Research presented at the conference identified three global priorities:
- Climate adaptation and mitigation – Investing in green transport, regenerative tourism, and resilient infrastructure to protect destinations from droughts, floods, cyclones, and coastal erosion.
- Digital resilience – Leveraging AI-driven forecasting, smart border management, and digital platforms for crisis preparedness and demand management.
- Inclusive growth – Ensuring tourism revenues benefit local communities and reduce inequality, supporting social stability and sustainable development.
Africa’s role as host reflected the continent’s growing influence in global tourism governance. However, challenges remain, including limited intra-African air connectivity, high travel costs, fragmented visa regimes, and underdeveloped transport infrastructure, which constrain regional tourism flows. Climate change poses a direct threat to wildlife ecosystems, heritage sites, and coastal destinations, while reliance on traditional products such as safaris and seasonal leisure tourism leaves economies exposed to demand shocks.
Financing gaps hinder investments in both climate-adaptive infrastructure and digital tools, while skills development and regional cooperation remain critical for sustaining long-term growth. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council, achieving a resilient, diversified, and inclusive tourism sector in Africa will require policies that maximize local economic value and ensure communities directly benefit from tourism revenues.
The Nairobi summit marked a turning point in global discussions, emphasizing that tourism resilience is not about returning to pre-crisis norms but building systems capable of withstanding future shocks and delivering sustainable growth worldwide.
Tourism is one of the world’s largest economic sectors, contributing over 10 percent of global GDP and supporting millions of jobs worldwide. However, the industry is increasingly vulnerable to systemic shocks, including climate change, pandemics, geopolitical tensions, and economic fluctuations. These challenges have prompted governments, international organizations, and private sector actors to rethink tourism as an interconnected global system rather than a collection of isolated national industries.
The concept of tourism resilience has evolved beyond short-term crisis response to focus on long-term sustainability and structural transformation. Resilient tourism involves investing in climate-adaptive infrastructure, such as flood-resistant accommodations and renewable-energy-powered transport; adopting digital solutions like AI-driven demand forecasting and smart border management; and creating inclusive business models that ensure tourism revenues benefit local communities.
In Africa, tourism is a major employer and foreign exchange earner, but the continent faces unique challenges. Limited intra-African air connectivity, high travel costs, fragmented visa regimes, and underdeveloped transport infrastructure constrain regional tourism flows. Destinations heavily reliant on safaris, coastal resorts, or seasonal leisure travel are particularly exposed to global demand shocks. Climate change adds another layer of risk, with prolonged droughts, floods, cyclones, and coastal erosion threatening wildlife ecosystems, heritage sites, and beach destinations.
Regional and global cooperation is increasingly critical. African nations are seeking to diversify tourism products, strengthen regional linkages, and build capacity in climate adaptation, digital technology, and human capital. International frameworks, such as those promoted by the World Travel & Tourism Council, encourage sustainable financing models, skills development, and policies that ensure local communities retain economic benefits from tourism.
The Global Tourism Resilience Day conference series, now in its fourth edition, brings together ministers, policymakers, researchers, investors, and industry leaders to share best practices, foster cross-border collaboration, and address systemic risks. Hosting the 2026 edition in Nairobi reflects Africa’s rising role in global tourism governance and highlights the continent as a key growth market for resilient, inclusive, and sustainable travel solutions.
By combining climate adaptation, digital transformation, and inclusive growth strategies, Africa and other regions aim to build forward a tourism sector capable of thriving amid global uncertainties while contributing to economic development and environmental sustainability.
