Bartlett Travels to Kenya for 4th Global Tourism Resilience Day Conference & Expo

Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has departed for Nairobi, Kenya, to take part in the 4th Global Tourism Resilience Day Conference and Expo (GTRDCE), happening February 15–18, 2026, at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC). This landmark event marks the first time Global Tourism Resilience Day is being observed outside Jamaica and the first ever on the African continent—a clear testament to Jamaica’s global leadership in tourism resilience.

Global Tourism Resilience Day, officially proclaimed by the United Nations in 2023 following Minister Bartlett’s visionary advocacy, has become a worldwide movement. “What began as an idea born from Jamaica’s own experiences has now grown into a global initiative,” said Minister Bartlett. “Hosting this event in Africa, especially in Kenya, underscores the shared journey of resilience, transformation, and opportunity that links our nations.”

Kenya’s hosting is strategically significant. The country was among the first to establish a satellite office of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC)—an institution founded and co-chaired by Minister Bartlett, with its headquarters at The University of the West Indies, Mona. The GTRDCE will bring together heads of government, ministers, global policymakers, academics, industry leaders, and development partners under the theme: “Tourism Resilience in Action: From Crisis Response to Impactful Transformation.”

Minister Bartlett will deliver keynote addresses, participate in high-level policy panels, and engage in strategic dialogues on resilience governance, investment mobilisation, workforce readiness, crisis communications, and the use of data and artificial intelligence in tourism resilience. The opening ceremony on February 16 will feature Minister Bartlett alongside Hon. Rebecca Miano, Cabinet Secretary of Kenya’s Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, Professor Lloyd Waller, Executive Director of GTRCMC, and Professor John Okumu, Acting Vice Chancellor of Kenyatta University.

A major highlight of the conference is the launch of Minister Bartlett’s new book, Destination Reputational Resilience, co-authored with Professor Waller. The book provides a practical roadmap for protecting destinations in a digital age, addressing threats like cyberattacks, misinformation, disinformation, deepfakes, and reputational manipulation. “Resilience today goes beyond physical infrastructure—it is about trust, credibility, and safeguarding a destination’s reputation,” Bartlett explained. Professor Waller added, “This publication equips leaders and stakeholders with actionable tools to defend and strengthen their destinations globally.”

In the foreword, UN Tourism Secretary-General Shaikha Al Nowais emphasizes the urgency of the subject:

“Tourism now operates inside a trust economy that is continuously contested… If we treat reputation as infrastructure—built deliberately, defended intelligently, and restored with proof—we will safeguard the future of tourism in a world that will not become simpler.”

The Global Tourism Resilience Day observance on February 17 will feature ministerial addresses, expert panels on AI and data-driven crisis prevention, youth and women leadership sessions, and a cultural exchange and awards ceremony celebrating global resilience champions.

Minister Bartlett highlighted the significance for Jamaica: “This demonstrates that Jamaican ideas matter, that our voice carries global influence, and that our experience can help shape international solutions. Tourism is a powerful tool for development, transformation, and dignity, and resilience ensures it continues to serve our people.”

The conference will close on February 18 with field learning excursions showcasing Kenya’s model resilient destinations, including urban conservation projects and heritage sustainability initiatives. Minister Bartlett is scheduled to return to Jamaica on Saturday, February 21, 2026.

Catégorie:

Tourisme 

Organisation:

Clevenard

Écrit par:

Tolu Osindero

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