CHAPTER THIRTEEN
KENYA AT THE HEART OF INCLUSIVE TOURISM:
How TUI Group ' s Bombolulu Partnership Is Redefining Sustainability
On Kenya ' s Coast, just outside Mombasa, a quiet but powerful transformation is unfolding— one that captures the true meaning of sustainable tourism. At the Bombolulu Workshops and Cultural Centre, artisans with diverse physical abilities are not only preserving Kenya ' s cultural heritage but redefining inclusion, dignity, and economic participation through tourism. At the centre of this story is the TUI Group, one of the world ' s largest tourism companies, whose global sustainability vision finds tangible expression in Kenya.
Bombolulu is more than a cultural attraction. Established to demonstrate that disability is not inability, the centre provides training, employment, and creative platforms for people with physical disabilities. Artisans craft traditional jewellery, textiles inspired by African heritage, wood carvings, leather goods, and even mobility aids such as wheelchairs and tricycles. Surrounding the
workshops is a cultural village of eight traditional Kenyan homesteads, each telling the story of different communities through architecture, dance, music, and lived experience.
Through the TUI Care Foundation ' s Colourful Cultures Programme, Bombolulu is now entering a new chapter. The partnership with the Association for the Physically Disabled of Kenya is enabling the restoration, expansion, and upgrading of the centre ' s facilities— unlocking its potential as a flagship model of inclusive, community-led tourism. With improved infrastructure, Bombolulu will host more than 200 cultural performances and activities annually, welcoming over 1,000 visitors, including local schoolchildren. Crucially, the project strengthens linkages with the wider tourism value chain, ensuring that visitors can engage meaningfully, purchase artisan products, and directly support livelihoods. This is sustainability in action— not as a policy statement, but as lived impact.
TUI Group: Global Scale, Local Impact Globally, TUI Group stands as one of the world ' s leading tourism and leisure companies, serving millions of travellers each year across Europe and beyond. Through brands such as TUI UK & Ireland, First Choice, Marella Cruises, Crystal Ski Holidays,
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