The government has granted Kenyans free access to the country’s game reserves and Parks on September 28, 2024, as it marks the United Nations World Tourism Week.

It kicked off on Monday in Kisumu and will end on Friday, September 27, 2024.

According to Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano, the culmination of UN Tourism Week celebrations will invite all Kenyans to visit any of the nation’s game reserves and parks.

“The climax of the UN Tourism Week in Kenya is an open invitation to all Kenyans to visit any of our game reserves and parks for free on Saturday, the 28th of September 2024. I have every reason to expect a successful and sterling UN World Tourist Week event in Kisumu.”

The CS stated that Kisumu County will host a series of activities to promote tourism development in the western region.

She said Kisumu has a track record of hosting world-class events, including the 5th edition of the World Blacks and Africans Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC), a Pan-African that brought together young artists from all over the continent inspired by the goal of promoting peace and unity through creative expression.

Miano stated that the event will offer a platform for the county leadership, stakeholders, and tourism players at the national level to unlock Kisumu’s and western Kenya's tourism potential, positioning the county not only as a prime leisure destination but also as a hub for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE).

“I am glad that Kisumu County Governor, Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o, has expressed the county’s excitement at hosting this prestigious event. It is particularly gratifying to note Governor Nyong’o’s eagerness to showcase Kisumu’s richly decked cultural heritage, natural beauty and burgeoning stature as a leading MICE destination,” she stated.

“This event will, no doubt, highlight Kisumu’s diverse attractions and promote it as a destination offering a generous fusion of leisure and business tourism experiences,” she added.

The 2024 World Tourism Celebrations mark the 44th edition since the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) inception in 1980.

The global celebration will be hosted in Tbilisi, Georgia, under the theme “Tourism and Peace.” It will reinforce tourism’s role in promoting peaceful coexistence and understanding among the world’s diverse creeds, cultures, and communities.