Kenya Airways has called for stronger tourism crisis systems at a Nairobi expo as it urges businesses and government to prepare before the next disruption.

The airline's Chief Commercial and Customer Officer Julius Thairu addressed the Magical Kenya Travel Expo on 8 Oct 2026.

“But surviving a crisis is not the same as being built for one,” Thairu said.

The proposals matter to Kenya's tourism businesses because Thairu said stronger systems would protect operators and traveller confidence during disruptions.

Thairu said the sector had weathered post-election violence, COVID-19 and the 2024 protests largely through its tourism offering and individual operators' determination.

He called for a shift towards planned resilience rather than relying on experience gained during previous crises.

His panel session examined travel insurance, health security beyond Nairobi and coordinated crisis management before the next disruption.

On insurance coverage Thairu said protection should become a standard part of the tourism experience rather than an optional afterthought.

He called for insurance to be embedded across airlines, online travel agencies, hotel websites and mobile payment platforms.

Thairu said Kenya's mobile money ecosystem offered an advantage in expanding domestic uptake of travel insurance.

He also called for Tourism Regulatory Authority minimum standards requiring clear information on available cover before customers complete bookings.

For tourism operators these proposals would place insurance information within the booking process rather than leave it outside the transaction.

On health security Thairu said travel advisories from major source markets could sharply reduce bookings overnight.

He called for proactive engagement with the UK's FCDO and the US State Department over such risks.

Thairu said health security infrastructure should be treated as an investment in destination competitiveness rather than simply a cost.

He proposed joint public and private financing for emergency medical response, disease surveillance and trained personnel without dependence on donors.

On crisis management Thairu said cancellations during the 2024 protests had outpaced any coordinated response.

He called for an agreed protocol setting out named roles, approved messaging, designated spokespersons and rapid response mechanisms.

The proposed arrangements would cover government, airlines, hotels and trade partners.

Thairu also called for sector-wide force majeure standards and a standing recovery plan supported by budgets and marketing materials approved in advance.

For Kenyan tourism businesses his proposals would require coordination across booking channels and emergency services rather than separate responses by individual operators.

Kenya Airways served as the expo's official airline partner and Thairu said aviation growth and tourism development were closely linked.

The 16th Magical Kenya Travel Expo runs from 6 to 8 Oct 2026 at Uhuru Gardens National Monument and Museum in Nairobi.