Panelists: Mr. Alan Dixon, Ms. Miriam Obegi, Ms. Shammi Shah, and Ms. Sharon Rombo
Moderator: Ms. Christine Olanga
This session brought to life the concept of shifting from conventional “best practices” to “valuable practices” through real-world examples shared by industry leaders. The conversations by Letโs Go Travel Uniglobe, Saruni Basecamp, Travel 4 Purpose, and Nomad Africa offered compelling insights into how sustainability in tourism is moving beyond standard checklists and broad claims to embrace initiatives that are deeply rooted in context, measurable in impact, and aligned with long-term community benefit.
The conversation underscored the idea that sustainability is not a one-size-fits-all approach but rather a dynamic and evolving process that thrives on critical reflection, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Panelists emphasized the importance of focusing on practices that go beyond optics those that are meaningful to the people and places involved.
Key approaches shared included supporting community welfare through targeted projects such as education initiatives and care programs for the elderly and children. Others include employing local workforces, providing training within communities, and creating storytelling platforms that elevate local voices. Value creation through local supply chains, engaging a broad spectrum of stakeholders, and intentionally including marginalized groups were also identified as key components of these valuable practices. Further, creating authentic local experiences, improving local economic retention, and supporting local guides and enterprises were also mentioned as some of the defining practices.