Post: Kisumu to host United Nations (UN) World Tourism Day national celebrations

Kisumu County has won a bid to host this year's United Nations World Tourism Day and Kenya Tourism Week celebrations.This follows a successful campaign by the County Government after the Ministry of Tourism invited all the 47 counties to submit their bids to host the event which is key on the global tourism calendar.The event is set to draw visitors and participants from across the country giving impetus to the County Government's drive to market Kisumu and a destination of choice.According to a statement from the County Department of Tourism, the bid was a testament of Kisumu's growing reputation as a destination of choice for both local and international visitors.The event, scheduled for 23rd to September 27, 2024 will feature a wide range of activities including lake tourism, peace initiatives, environmental conservation, sector exhibitions, workshops and seminars, cultural showcases, youth-focused engagements, and a grand networking gala dinner.Award ceremonies will also be held to recognize ke y players and innovations within the tourism sector.This year's theme, according to the statement, is 'Tourism and Peace' and will be aligned with global efforts to use tourism as a tool for fostering peace, harmony and development.'The event will not only celebrate tourism's role in promoting peace but will also focus on sustainable development, environmental conservation, and youth empowerment, making it a landmark occasion for Kisumu and the entire region,' read the statement in part.The win adds to Kisumu's growing list of achievements as a host of major international events having hosted the Afri-Cities Summit in 2022 and recently the FESTAC festival among others.Source: Kenya News Agency