Events
Pathways to Sustainable Blue Tourism in the Western Indian Ocean
Sailfish Room, PrideInn Paradise Convention Centre, Mombasa, Kenya from 10.45 EAT
The Blue Tourism Initiative (BTI) is pleased to announce its participation in the Our Ocean Conference 2026, taking place in Mombasa, Kenya, from 16–18 June 2026. As part of this global gathering, BTI, under the leadership of CORDIO East Africa and in partnership with the Our Blue Future initiative, will host a side event entitled “Pathways to Sustainable Blue Tourism in the Western Indian Ocean.”
The event will take place at the Sailfish Room, PrideInn Paradise Convention Centre (WIO-C Pavilion), Mombasa, Kenya, on Wednesday, 17 June 2026, from 10:45 to 11:30 AM EAT.
The side event will provide a platform for dialogue on how tourism can evolve into a powerful force for ocean stewardship, community well-being, and economic resilience. Participants will explore the policy frameworks, innovative approaches, and practical solutions needed to foster a tourism sector that protects marine ecosystems while delivering meaningful benefits to the people and communities that depend on them.
Bringing together policymakers, tourism practitioners, conservation organisations, researchers, development partners, and community representatives, the session will facilitate the exchange of experiences and identify pathways for collaboration across the Western Indian Ocean region.
Participants will explore:
Enabling policies and governance frameworks for sustainable blue tourism;
Innovative financing and investment opportunities;
Community-led approaches that strengthen local livelihoods and environmental stewardship;
Practical experiences and lessons learned from the Blue Tourism Initiative across the Western Indian Ocean; and
Partnerships that can scale sustainable and inclusive tourism solutions.
We are honoured to welcome contributions from distinguished speakers and experts, including:
Brenda Kibiku, Technical Advisor, Blue Economy, Our Blue Future (GIZ);
Santatra Razafindratsimba, Blue Finance Lead, WWF Madagascar;
Obakeng Molelu, Science to Policy Manager, WIOMSA;