Eldoret City is set to take centre stage in Kenya’s tourism calendar after Tourism Principal Secretary Julius Kibet Bitok announced that the city will host this year’s World Tourism Day celebrations.

The announcement places the fast-growing Uasin Gishu city in the national tourism spotlight as the government seeks to diversify Kenya’s tourism destinations beyond the traditional coastal and wildlife circuits.

Speaking during an engagement in Eldoret, PS Bitok said the World Tourism Day celebrations will provide an opportunity to showcase the city’s unique identity, economic potential and sporting heritage to visitors from across Kenya and beyond.

Eldoret, popularly known as the “City of Champions,” has earned global recognition for producing some of Kenya’s finest athletes, particularly in long-distance running.

Bitok said the government is also exploring plans to establish a platinum-level marathon in Eldoret, an initiative expected to use the city’s rich athletics heritage as a major tourism attraction.

The proposed marathon would seek to position Eldoret on the global sporting calendar while attracting international athletes, tourists, sponsors and other visitors.

According to Bitok, the event would not only celebrate Eldoret’s sporting achievements but also help open up new opportunities for hotels, restaurants, transport operators, tour companies, small businesses and other players in the hospitality industry.

The PS said the government wants to leverage Eldoret’s reputation as a global athletics hub to strengthen its profile as a tourism destination.

The planned initiatives are expected to complement existing tourism attractions in Uasin Gishu and the wider North Rift region, creating a broader tourism circuit that combines sports, culture, agriculture and nature.

The World Tourism Day celebrations will also offer an opportunity for local tourism stakeholders to showcase products and experiences available in the region while highlighting Eldoret’s growing status as a major urban and commercial centre.

The announcement comes as the government intensifies efforts to expand Kenya’s tourism portfolio and encourage visitors to explore destinations outside the traditional tourism hotspots.

For Eldoret, hosting the global tourism celebrations could mark a significant milestone in its ambition to transform its international sporting reputation into wider economic and tourism opportunities.

With the proposed platinum marathon also in the pipeline, the City of Champions could soon be seeking to become the City of Tourism and Global Sporting Events.