Tourism Cabinet Secretary, Rebecca Miano, is in Livingstone, Zambia, to advocate for Kenya’s inclusion in the prestigious United Nations (UN) Tourism Executive Council for the 2025-2029 term. Miano’s advocacy comes after Kenya officially submitted its proposal to all UN Tourism Member States on March 21, 2025, seeking to secure a seat in the influential body.
The UN Tourism Executive Council plays a vital role in the governance of the global tourism sector. As a key decision-making body, it oversees the operations of the UN Tourism organization, ensuring compliance with budgets and policies. It also plays an essential role in shaping strategic directions and addressing global challenges faced by the tourism industry.
Miano, who is attending the second UN Tourism Africa and Americas Ministerial Summit in Zambia, emphasized the importance of international collaboration in the tourism sector. She underscored the need for enhanced connectivity between nations and the implementation of more accessible visa facilitation policies. “We need to provide opportunities to bolster tourism sector growth through enhanced connectivity and friendlier visa facilitation policies among participating countries,” she said.
The Cabinet Secretary also highlighted the critical need for sharing and learning from best practices to build resilience and manage crises in the tourism sector. “We must work together to foster resilience in tourism, especially in the face of adverse situations such as pandemics, natural disasters, conflicts, and the impacts of climate change,” Miano added.
Kenya’s push for membership in the UN Tourism Executive Council aligns with the country’s broader efforts to strengthen its tourism sector and increase foreign currency inflows. Last year, Kenya recorded 2.4 million international visitors, a 14.6 percent growth compared to 2023. The United States, Uganda, Tanzania, the United Kingdom, and India were the top five source markets for tourism in Kenya, with the United States leading the pack with 306,501 visitors.
Miano’s call for Kenya’s inclusion in the UN Tourism Executive Council reflects the country’s growing influence in global tourism discussions. Securing a seat on the council would enhance Kenya’s position as a competitive tourism destination in Africa and provide an opportunity for greater influence in shaping the future of global tourism policy. Kenya’s participation in this esteemed body would also open doors for new partnerships and initiatives that could drive further growth in the sector.
The tourism sector remains one of Kenya’s key economic pillars, and the government’s efforts to position the country as a top global tourism destination continue to gain momentum with these ongoing advocacy efforts on the international stage.
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