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.
