On January 29, 2025, the Tourism and Cultural Heritage (TCH) component grantees gathered at the Kaya Kinondo Sacred Forest in Kwale County for a benchmarking activity. Organized by Sustainable Travel and Tourism Africa (STTA), the technical assistance provider for the component, the event served as a platform for the grantees to exchange knowledge, share experiences, and foster collaboration within the sector.
The key goals of the activity were to share experiences, challenges, lessons learned, and best practices in the implementation of tourism and cultural heritage projects. It also aimed to provide an understanding of the role of private sector organizations and membership partnerships in tourism, explore the best conditions and requirements for partnerships with hotels and other operators, identify sustainability best practices for grantee projects and the broader tourism and cultural heritage sector, and encourage partnerships and collaboration among grantees and stakeholders.
The event commenced with an official welcome from the Tourism and Cultural Heritage component’s Project Manager, who expressed joy at the successful gathering of grantees. The first presentation was delivered by Nick Angore, the JKP Secretariat Tourism Lead, who provided insights on strengthening tourism and cultural heritage beyond the Go Blue Project and highlighted opportunities for grantees to engage in new initiatives. Madam Joanne Ndung’u, Residences Manager at Leopard Beach Resort & Residence, also shared valuable insights. Her session covered the status of tourism, emerging trends in visitor bookings, cultural and heritage access, and how hotels collaborate with community experience providers to enhance guest experiences.
One of the grantees who successfully completed their project provided a peer-to-peer learning session, sharing experiences on market access preparation, strategies, and best practices for ensuring project sustainability and success. Additionally, grantees took turns presenting updates on their respective projects, highlighting their progress, success stories, and sustainability initiatives. The hybrid nature of the session allowed for active participation and engagement, leading to meaningful discussions and knowledge-sharing.
The highlight of the event was the guided tour of Kaya Kinondo Sacred Forest, one of the beneficiaries of the Tourism and Cultural Heritage component. The facility’s coordinator, Mr. Gerald Gambo, provided an overview of the site, offering insights into cultural interpretation, guiding techniques, and value addition to guest experiences. Grantees explored the forest, learning about its diverse species, cultural significance, and the beliefs associated with it.
The benchmarking event at Kaya Kinondo Sacred Forest was a resounding success. It not only facilitated knowledge exchange among grantees but also reinforced the importance of sustainable tourism and cultural heritage preservation. The discussions and interactions highlighted the need for stronger partnerships, innovative solutions, and best practices that will drive the sector forward.