Webinar Recording - Ecotourism Kenya - Shaping Sustainable Destinations
Shaping Sustainable Destinations Webinar Recap
Ecotourism Kenya through the African Travel and Tourism Association (ATTA) organized an inspiring online webinar featuring select winners of the prestigious Ecowarrior Awards 17th Edition on the 25th of February 2025. These champions of sustainable tourism, recognized for their outstanding contributions, will share firsthand experiences and practical strategies for building resilient and thriving responsible destinations.
From best practices in the tourism industry and groundbreaking conservation initiatives to fostering equity and inclusivity and empowering local communities, the Ecowarrior Award winners will offer unique perspectives on what it takes to create a truly sustainable tourism model. Gain valuable insights into their successful operations and learn how you can apply these principles to your work in shaping sustainable destinations. The presenters featured;
- Asilia Africa’s Encounter Mara, Leading Accommodation Facility in Responsible Business Practices - Grace Mwangi, Sustainability Analyst
- Intrepid Travel (Peak East Africa), Leading Tour Operator in Advancing Gender Equality & Reducing Inequalities - Irene Omune, People Partner East Africa, Egypt and Jordan
- Ngare Ndare Forest Trust, Leading Community Entity in Sustainable Tourism Practices - Peter Kiptanui, Program Manager
- Mugie Conservancy, Leading Protected Area in Biodiversity Conservation - Max Lovatelli, Development & Programs Manager
Developing and maintaining sustainable destinations require a collective effort across the tourism value chain. This webinar, moderated by Melisa Foley, Conscious Tourism Advisor at ATTA, featured insights from an accommodation, a tour operator, a community-based enterprise, and a protected area. They included best practices that can be benchmarked from by other tourism players. Some of the insights are;
Encounter Mara prioritizes sustainability certifications, tracking metrics, and investing in technology for assessment and monitoring. They implement best practices in energy, waste, and water management, work with eco-friendly local suppliers, and ensure over 50% of their workforce is local. Intrepid East Africa contributed by explaining different ways of ensuring inclusivity by diversifying tourism offerings to wide clientele base, promoting year-round travel, and highlighting Kenya’s hidden gems. Supplier policies that respect environmental and social aspects is a guidance resource both Encounter Mara and Intrepid East Africa use to help ensure quality and commitment to responsible tourism.
Ngare Ndare Forest Trust demonstrated how conservation, commerce, and local engagement can coexist, through different activities. With the tourism revenue gained they fund ecological preservation and community empowerment initiatives. Mugie Conservancy emphasized balancing tourism with community livelihoods through responsible procurement, balancing tourism and community needs through livelihood diversification as well as investing in conservation of wildlife.
The discussions also emphasized transparency in sustainability claims to avoid greenwashing. Across all sectors, leadership support, staff involvement, collaboration and knowledge-sharing play a critical role in shaping sustainable destinations.
See the 2024 Ecowarrior Awards winners here.
Watch their interviews at the 2024 gala ceremony here.
