Patmoz
By Steve El Sabai
Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano began her day with a dynamic engagement alongside leaders from the Kenya Association of Hotel and Caterers and prominent players within the hospitality and travel ecosystem. This high-level dialogue centered on crafting integrated, transformative solutions to elevate Kenya’s tourism profile and achieve the ambitious target of welcoming 5.5 million international visitors by 2027.
Key thematic areas under discussion included expanding air connectivity to prime destinations, strengthening Kenya’s Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism offering, and leveraging immersive digital marketing to amplify Kenya’s visibility as a premier travel destination. The CS emphasized the importance of anchoring all tourism promotion efforts within a cohesive and forward-looking national tourism strategy.
CS Miano commended the unwavering dedication of hospitality stakeholders and extended special gratitude to Chairman Chris Musau and his team for their leadership in fostering quality standards and guest experiences that meet and exceed global benchmarks.
Recognizing that a thriving tourism industry cannot exist in isolation, the CS reiterated the critical role of peace, security, and political stability as foundational to tourism sustainability. She reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to inclusive growth, placing youth and women at the heart of tourism’s socio-economic transformation agenda.
CS Miano highlighted several ongoing programs, including structured mentorship, enterprise incubation, and digital training platforms tailored to equip young people with the skillsets needed to innovate across the tourism value chain. These initiatives are unlocking entrepreneurial potential in areas such as eco-tourism, digital storytelling, culinary tourism, and artisanal crafts, especially in untapped rural circuits.
According to the Cabinet Secretary, the future of Kenya’s tourism is not only about destination promotion, but also about elevating local talent, fostering authentic experiences, and ensuring the sector remains resilient, competitive, and community-driven.
“With the right investments, policy alignment, and public-private collaboration, we are creating a tourism landscape where innovation thrives, heritage is celebrated, and every visitor leaves with a story worth telling,” she noted.
As Kenya moves toward a bold new era of tourism, the message is clear this is not just about arrivals, it is about legacy. A legacy defined by empowered youth, enriched local economies, and memorable, transformative journeys powered by Kenyan excellence.
Shadrack Nyakoe
