Cabinet approves free entry to all national parks on tourism day

In a move aimed at promoting tourism and celebrating the United Nations World Tourism Day, the Cabinet has approved free entry to all national parks across Kenya on September 28, 2024.

This forms part of a week-long series of activities set to run from September 22 to 29 in honour of the annual event.

“As a testament to our commitment to enhancing the nation's Meetings, Conventions, and Exhibits (MICE) tourism, Cabinet approved the calendar of activities to mark the United Nations World Tourism Day/Week in September 2024,” reads the dispatch from Cabinet.

Among the activities, the highlight will be the free entry to all national parks on September 28, which is expected to draw both local and international visitors, strengthening Kenya’s position as a leading tourist destination.

World Tourism Day has been held on September 27 each year since 1980. The date marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Statutes of the Organisation in 1970, paving the way for the establishment of UN Tourism five years later.

In Kenya, the Kisumu government won the bid to host this year's Kenya Tourism Week and United Nations World Tourism Day which has been themed “Tourism and Peace”

It celebrates tourism's role in fostering social, political, cultural and economic development. Kisumu will take centre stage as it showcases its rich cultural heritage, stunning landscapes and tourist attractions.

The event will feature peace caravans, environmental conservation, capacity-building, marathon races, charity walks, football matches, beach events, and cultural festivals.

Networking gala dinners, exhibitions, youth-focused programmes and award ceremonies recognising achievements have also been lined up by the organisers.

The Cabinet also approved the hosting of the Third African Forum on Cybercrime in November 2024.

The African Union Commission, the European Union, and the Council of Europe (GLACY-e project) will jointly organise the forum from November 12 to 14, 2024.

The event which will be hosted by Kenya’s Ministry of Interior and National Administration with support from the Kenya Judiciary Academy (KJA), will focus on tackling emerging cybercrime threats and finding more effective strategies to combat them.

The forum will provide a platform for international and national stakeholders to share knowledge and practical experiences from successful operations. Participants will also explore opportunities for enhanced collaboration on cybercrime and handling electronic evidence.