Tourism CS Rebecca Miano at the World Governments Summit in Dubai/HANDOUTTourism CS Rebecca Miano has called
for an in-depth integration of AI technology into the tourism sector, identifying
innovation as no longer an extra in tourism but as an engine for its growth.
The CS made the announcement during the
ongoing World Governments Summit in Dubai.
CS Miano held discussions with Doron Avni, Google’s
Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy for Emerging Markets.
She
said the aim was to collaborate and partner with Google in skills training and
capacity building, which was geared towards making tourism more accessible and
tech-friendly.
“By integrating AI-driven and other
predictive analytics, we aren’t just looking at the anticipated 5 million plus
visitors, we’re setting a stage for their unparalleled destination experience,”
she said.
The CS commended the significant
progress in emerging tech with the country’s tourism systems. She remarked on the
seamless entry of foreign tourists via the eTA system and AI-powered wildlife
monitoring in the Maasai Mara, saying it ensured smart conservation and premium
hospitality.
CS Miano envisioned that by
employing AI and blockchain technology, the government would get rid of bureaucracies
that were strenuous and costly and also ensure that more revenue would go
directly to the local communities and conservancies.
“We are positioning Kenya as not
only a destination but also as a global hub for Travel Tech startups aimed at
doubling the sector’s GDP contribution to 8% by the end of next year,” the CS said.
“The digital gates to Magical Kenya
are wide open,” the CS said, urging partners and potential stakeholders in the
tech and travel sector to consider Kenya as a viable hub for digital creation.
This appeal for innovative technology
in wildlife and tourism is made days after the Kenya Space Agency launched
Project Centinela, an initiative aiming to use satellite imagery for habitat
monitoring and restoration of the endangered mountain bongo habitat.
The project would apply high-definition
earth observation data to establish historical forest and habitat and current
imagery to assess present land cover conditions to guide long-term restoration
efforts.
“This allows us to measure
restoration progress and better understand historical environmental changes,
which directly informs our breeding, rewilding and long-term conservation
strategies,” said Dr. Robert Aruho, head of conservancy at the Mount Kenya
Wildlife Conservancy.
This initiative underscored the crucial
role of technology in biodiversity and restoration efforts and conveyed the need
for collaboration between government agencies, conservation agencies, and
technology partners.
