Eldoret hosts UN Tourism Week
Eldoret will this week host the UN Tourism Week as Kenya seeks to diversify its tourism offering beyond the traditional coastal and wildlife destinations.
The week-long event, scheduled for September 21 to 27 at the University of Eldoret, will focus on the theme “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism.”
The event will bring together national and county governments, tourism investors, technology companies, innovators, scholars, conservationists, tourism operators and members of the public.
The government says the event will provide a platform to demonstrate how digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) can strengthen Kenya’s tourism competitiveness by supporting destination marketing, travel technology, smart tourism and innovation.
Tourism Principal Secretary Julius Bitok said the programme had been designed to encourage visitors to explore Eldoret and other destinations across the North Rift.
“We have lined up many interesting activities to not only see but to actively participate in. We invite everyone to visit Eldoret and the greater North Rift to sample the glory of the true home of champions,” Bitok said.
The programme will include capacity-building sessions on the practical application of digital technologies and AI for tourism stakeholders, including micro, small and medium enterprises, tour operators, hoteliers, tour guides, young people and community-based tourism enterprises.
Participants will also explore how AI and digital innovation can create new opportunities for destinations, businesses and local communities.
The sessions will cover destination marketing, content creation, customer engagement, business development and market intelligence, with the aim of helping tourism entrepreneurs and innovators improve their visibility and competitiveness.
The organisers also plan to use the event to showcase the people, places and lived experiences of the North Rift through organised road trips and a destination caravan.
Participants will visit attraction sites, experience local tourism products and interact with tourism enterprises and communities.
The programme will include hot-air balloon rides, while visitors will also be introduced to Eldoret’s nightlife, entertainment venues and other social experiences.
The government is also seeking to attract more international tourists by promoting diverse tourism products through experiential activities, including active sports and immersive cultural experiences.
The event will feature exhibitions showcasing tourism products, enterprises, technological innovations, culture and creative expression.
The exhibitions are expected to provide opportunities for networking, collaboration and market linkages between tourism businesses, innovators, investors and other industry players.
Environmental conservation and sustainable tourism will also form part of the programme, with participants expected to take part in tree-growing and clean-up activities.
The hosting of the event in Eldoret comes as Kenya seeks to expand the geographical and product base of its tourism industry, while positioning technology and innovation as tools for improving destination visibility, visitor experiences and business opportunities.
The North Rift’s reputation as a centre for athletics, its cultural diversity and emerging business and hospitality ecosystem provide an opportunity to package the region as a tourism destination beyond its traditional economic activities.
