Leadership. Legacy. Impact.
In 2026, the Sustainable Tourism Africa Summit (STAS) proved that the sector is done with empty rhetoric. Over two days at Lake Naivasha, delegates confronted the structural realities of African tourism: a 5% local revenue retention rate in South Luangwa, the quiet exclusion of persons with disabilities in aviation, and the impending enforcement of the EU EMPCO directive. They didn’t just talk – they signed a digital sustainability pledge and the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action.
The 12th Summit returns on 13 and 14 May 2027, moving to the highlands of Ridge Cabin Resort, Limuru.
STAS 2027 is built on three questions:
Leadership: Who is willing to stop being the “cheering crowd” at policy launches and start demanding accountable destination planning?
Legacy: What will remain of our ecosystems and cultural heritage when the tourism season ends?
Impact: How do we measure what actually matters—who holds decision-making power and where the money stays – rather than just counting visitor numbers?
Expect case studies with real data, governance models that survived contact with reality, and frameworks that meet the rigorous legal standards of global markets. This is the room where the sector’s hardest questions are asked by the people equipped to answer them.
13 – 14 May 2027 · Ridge Cabin Resort, Limuru, Kenya
The 2027 Agenda: Leadership. Legacy. Impact.
How the 2026 conversations shape our 2027 agenda:
Leadership: In 2026, Prof. Bonface Kihima exposed the gap between growth and development – calling out the “cheering crowd” who applaud policies that never materialise. In 2027, we look at who is actually making the hard calls. We explore destination governance that survives political changes, and how operators are aligning with the EU EMPCO directive to build a legal shield for their businesses.
Legacy: Nancy Ogonje warned us in 2026 that Lake Naivasha is reclaiming its 1985 extent, turning flamingos white as the water pH changes. We move to Limuru to look at long-horizon planning: creating microclimates, restoring native food systems (like the Wonder Garden model), and ensuring cultural integrity is preserved, not commodified.
Impact: Evie Ndhlovu challenged the room in 2026 to stop measuring “jobs created” and start measuring “decision-making power.” In 2027, we track the shift. From the Bicari Cooperative governance model to B-Corp certification and the B Impact Assessment, we focus on the metrics that prove communities are owners, not just beneficiaries.
Who Attends
STAS brings together the full spectrum of the tourism value chain:
- Government and Policy: Tourism boards, ministries, and county executives.
- Enterprise and Operations: Lodge managers, tour operators, MICE organisers, and SMMEs.
- Community and Conservation: Conservancy leaders, community tourism enterprises, and NGOs.
- Finance and Development: Green finance professionals, impact investors, and development partners.
- Academia and Media: Researchers, scholars, and storytellers driving the narrative forward.
- Inclusion and Accessibility: Advocates and specialists ensuring no one is left behind.
Venue & Location
Ridge Cabin Resort, Limuru – 13 & 14 May 2027
In 2026, we met at Lake Naivasha – a Ramsar wetland under immediate ecological stress. In 2027, we move to the highlands of Limuru.
The shift is deliberate. Limuru offers a cool, forested environment that reflects the kind of grounded, long-term thinking the sector needs. It is easily accessible from Nairobi, yet distinct enough to step away from the capital’s noise and focus on the ecosystems, farms, and communities that make this region a working example of stewardship.
Call for Speakers
Do you have a case study with real numbers? Have you designed a governance model that survived contact with reality?
We are looking for African practitioners, community enterprise leaders, and early-career researchers who have been told their work is “too specific” for a conference stage. That is exactly what we want.
Submissions open 1 December 2026.
Partner with STAS
Sponsorship puts your organisation inside the room where the sector’s standards are set. Whether it’s a physical exhibition space, a speaking slot, or sponsoring delegates from community enterprises, we tailor partnerships that align with your sustainability commitments.
Contact stas@sttakenya.org or download the 2027 prospectus.
