ELDORET — Kenya is marking the 2026 UN World Tourism Week and World Tourism Day with a five-day programme in Eldoret, placing renewed attention on the tourism potential of the North Rift region.
The programme runs from 23 to 27 September at the University of Eldoret in Uasin Gishu County.
According to Kenya’s Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, activities are bringing together the public and tourism stakeholders around several themes including culture, sport, conservation, gastronomy and digital innovation.
The programme provides Kenya with an opportunity to highlight tourism experiences beyond the destinations traditionally associated with international travel to the country.
The North Rift is closely connected with Kenya’s athletics heritage, agricultural landscapes and diverse cultural communities, while the wider Rift Valley contains significant natural and tourism attractions.
Technology is also becoming part of Kenya’s tourism strategy.
The 2026 programme includes attention to digital technology and artificial intelligence and their potential role in how destinations are promoted, tourism services are delivered and visitors plan their journeys.
The shift reflects a broader transformation of the international travel industry, where mobile platforms, digital booking, data analysis and AI-assisted services increasingly influence consumer behaviour.
Kenya remains internationally known for wildlife and safari tourism, but tourism authorities are seeking to diversify the range of experiences available to domestic and international travellers.
By staging the national tourism programme in Eldoret, the 2026 celebrations place regional tourism and the North Rift more prominently within that discussion.