KINGSTON, Jamaica; Friday, February 13, 2026: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, departed the island today for Nairobi, Kenya, where he will participate in the 4th Global Tourism Resilience Day Conference and Expo (GTRDCE), scheduled for February 15–18, 2026, at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).
The high-level gathering marks a historic milestone, as it represents the first annual international observation of Global Tourism Resilience Day to be hosted outside of Jamaica, and the first to be staged on the African continent. Global Tourism Resilience Day was officially proclaimed by the United Nations in 2023, following sustained advocacy spearheaded by Minister Bartlett, positioning Jamaica as the global thought leader on tourism resilience.
“This moment is deeply symbolic for Jamaica and profoundly important for the world,” said Minister Bartlett. “What began as an idea born out of Jamaica’s own vulnerabilities and lived experience has now become a global movement. Hosting this event in Africa, and particularly in Kenya, reflects the shared journey of resilience, transformation and opportunity that connects our nations,” he added.
Kenya’s role as host is strategically significant, as it was among the first countries to establish a satellite location of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC), an institution founded and co-chaired by Minister Bartlett, headquartered at The University of the West Indies, Mona.
The conference and expo, being held under the theme “Tourism Resilience in Action: From Crisis Response to Impactful Transformation,” will bring together heads of government, ministers, global policymakers, academics, industry leaders and development partners to examine how tourism can move beyond recovery into sustainable transformation.
Minister Bartlett will deliver keynote addresses, participate in high-level policy panel discussions, and engage in strategic dialogues focused on resilience governance, investment mobilisation, workforce preparedness, data, artificial intelligence and crisis communications.
The official opening ceremony on February 16 will be led by Minister Bartlett alongside the Hon. Rebecca Miano, Cabinet Secretary in Kenya’s Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, Professor Lloyd Waller, Executive Director of the GTRCMC and Professor John Okumu, Acting Vice Chancellor of Kenyatta University.
A major highlight of the conference will be the official launch of Minister Bartlett’s new book, Destination Reputational Resilience, co-authored with Prof. Waller. “This book speaks directly to the realities destinations now face. Resilience today is not only about physical infrastructure or disaster response, but also about trust, credibility and the ability to defend a destination’s reputation in a fast-moving digital world. Jamaica has lived this, and we are sharing that knowledge globally,” Bartlett noted.
“The publication provides a structured, actionable framework for protecting destinations against emerging digital threats, including cyberattacks, misinformation, disinformation, deepfakes and reputational manipulation,” Prof. Waller explained.
In the foreword to the book, UN Tourism Secretary-General Shaikha Al Nowais underscores the urgency of this new frontier, writing:
“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, then 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 data-driven crisis prevention and AI, youth and women leadership sessions, and a cultural exchange and awards ceremony celebrating global resilience champions.
Minister Bartlett emphasised that Jamaica’s leadership in this space continues to deliver tangible global and national value, saying: “For Jamaicans, this is proof that our ideas matter, our voice carries weight, and our experience can help shape global solutions. Tourism has become one of the most powerful tools for development, transformation and dignity, and resilience is what ensures it continues to serve our people.”
The conference will conclude on February 18 with field learning excursions showcasing model resilient destinations in Kenya, including urban conservation and heritage sustainability initiatives.
Minister Bartlett is scheduled to return to Jamaica on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
