Nairobi Declaration marks Turning Point for Global Tourism Resilience
Pictured: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett walks with Hon Rebecca Miano, Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife of the Republic of Kenya during the announcement of the Nairobi Declaration at the 4th Global Tourism Resilience Day Conference and Expo on Tuesday February 17, 2026.
London, 26 February 2026 - Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett, has hailed the Nairobi Declaration as a turning point for Global Tourism Resilience. Adopted in Kenya at the 4th Global Tourism Resilience Day Conference and Expo, the Nairobi Declaration on Global Tourism Resilience is a historic framework committing nations to a coordinated, forward-looking approach to safeguarding one of the world's most vital economic sectors.
As one of the world’s largest outbound travel markets and a key source market for the Caribbean, the United Kingdom has a strong stake in the resilience of global tourism systems. According to recent tourism statistics published by the House of Commons Library, around one in five trips (18%) made by Britons now go to regions outside of Europe and North America, many of which are among the world’s most climate-exposed tourism economies.
“The Nairobi Declaration is not merely a statement of intent - it is a strategic blueprint for the future of global tourism. In an era defined by climate disruption, geopolitical uncertainty, and rapidly evolving technologies, resilience is no longer optional; it is the foundation upon which sustainable tourism growth must be built. This Declaration calls on every nation to embed resilience into the very architecture of their tourism policies, and Jamaica is proud to have championed this agenda from its inception and to stand at the forefront of this global commitment,” said Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett.
The Declaration was adopted at the close of the 4th Global Tourism Resilience Day Conference and Expo, held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi, Kenya, from 16 to 18 February 2026. Held under the theme ‘Tourism Resilience in Action: From Crisis Response to Impactful Transformation,’ the three-day event brought together heads of tourism ministries, multilateral institutions, private sector representatives, academics, and civil society organizations to advance the global resilience agenda as the sector looks ahead to 2030.
The Nairobi Declaration comprises six substantive Articles addressing the full spectrum of resilience priorities. It calls on nations to institutionalise resilience within national tourism policy and legislation; mobilise sustainable financing, including the establishment of dedicated Tourism Resilience Funds in every region; harness data, artificial intelligence, and predictive analytics to anticipate emerging crises; and advance climate adaptation and nature-positive tourism models.
“Critically, the Declaration places inclusivity at the heart of resilience, mandating the full participation of women, youth, indigenous communities, and other vulnerable groups in shaping policy. It further calls for strengthened regional and global cooperation, harmonised crisis-response protocols, and a unified multilateral voice on tourism resilience,” said Professor Lloyd Waller, Executive Director, Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre.
Minister Bartlett underscored the Declaration's strategic significance: “For too long, the tourism sector has responded to crises reactively. The Nairobi Declaration charts a different course - one of proactive, data-driven, and inclusive resilience planning. By 2030, our shared vision is a tourism sector that does not merely survive disruption but is genuinely transformed by it.”
The Nairobi event marks the first time the annual Global Tourism Resilience Day Conference and Expo has been held outside Jamaica, reflecting the Declaration's call for deeper regional cooperation and broader global ownership of the resilience agenda. The United Nations General Assembly designated 17 February as Global Tourism Resilience Day in 2023, following a resolution initiated by Jamaica and co-sponsored by 94 Member States.
Tourism is one of the world's largest economic sectors, accounting for approximately one in ten jobs globally. Yet the sector remains acutely vulnerable to climatic, health-related, geopolitical, economic, and technological shocks - vulnerabilities laid bare by the COVID-19 pandemic and deepening climate crisis.
The Declaration’s focus on climate adaptation, data-driven crisis planning and coordinated international response is likely to shape how UK tour operators, airlines and travel investors assess risk and resilience across global destinations in the years ahead.
For more information about Jamaica and the GTRCMC go to www.visitjamaica.com and www.gtrcmc.org
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ABOUT THE JAMAICA TOURIST BOARD
The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), founded in 1955, is Jamaica's national tourism agency based in the capital city of Kingston. JTB offices are also located in Montego Bay, Miami, Toronto and London. Representative offices are in Berlin, Barcelona, Rome, Amsterdam, Mumbai, Tokyo and Paris.
Jamaica is home to some of the world's best accommodations, attractions and service providers that continue to receive prominent global recognition. In 2025, TripAdvisor® ranked Jamaica as the #13 Best Honeymoon Destination, #11 Best Culinary Destination, and #24 Best Cultural Destination in the World. In 2024, Jamaica was declared 'World's Leading Cruise Destination' and 'World's Leading Family Destination' for the fifth consecutive year by the World Travel Awards, which also named the JTB the 'Caribbean's Leading Tourist Board' for the 17th consecutive year.
Jamaica earned six Travvy Awards, including a gold for 'Best Travel Agent Academy Program' and silver for 'Best Culinary Destination – Caribbean' and 'Best Tourism Board – Caribbean'. The destination also received bronze recognition for 'Best Destination – Caribbean', 'Best Wedding Destination – Caribbean', and 'Best Honeymoon Destination – Caribbean'. Additionally, Jamaica received a TravelAge West WAVE award for 'International Tourism Board Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support' for a record-setting 12th time.
For details on upcoming special events, attractions and accommodations in Jamaica go to the JTB's Website at www.visitjamaica.com or call the Jamaica Tourist Board at 1-800-JAMAICA (1-800-526-2422). Follow the JTB on Facebook, X, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube. View the JTB blog at www.visitjamaica.com/blog/.