Keios Srl

Developing Tourism Products for Sidama, Ethiopia

Keios assisted the Ministry of Tourism of Ethiopia in the preparation of a Product Development Plan for Sidama Region, as part of the Ethiopia Tourism Resource Mapping Project.
The work focused on identifying, assessing and structuring tourism assets into viable visitor experiences, with attention to culture, landscape, local communities, infrastructure, market readiness and environmental sustainability.
By combining field-based assessment, GIS-supported analysis, stakeholder engagement and product development planning, Keios helped the destination move from resource identification to practical, market-oriented and implementation-ready tourism solutions.
Learn more: www.keios.it

Supporting National Tourism Planning in Sierra Leone

Keios, in joint venture with The Journey of South Africa, recently assisted the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs of Sierra Leone, with the support of the World Bank, in the preparation of the National Tourism Plan for Sierra Leone: a comprehensive framework for sustainable tourism development, destination competitiveness and sector coordination.
The assignment combined national-level tourism planning with an integrated understanding of cultural heritage, natural assets, market potential, infrastructure, institutional capacity and investment priorities.
Through this work, Keios helped translate tourism potential into a structured planning approach, supporting decision-makers in defining realistic priorities, strengthening implementation pathways and positioning tourism as a driver of inclusive and sustainable development.
Learn more: www.keios.it

From 23rd to 31st March, our team — Raffaele Gorjux (Team Leader), Simon Woodward (Cultural Expert), Awadh Salim (Community Engagement and MSME Development Specialist), Giulia Gorjux (Technical Coordinator) and Alice Durì (Project Manager) — carried out a field mission in Lamu, Kenya, as part of the project “Lamu Creative and Cultural Industries”.
The mission began with a series of introductory meetings and exchanges with local representatives and sector professionals, providing valuable insights into the local context.
Over the course of the week, we visited a wide range of sites and engaged directly with local practitioners. In Lamu Old Town, we explored artisan shops, cultural landmarks, museums, and the Fort. We also visited Shela and its surrounding areas, including sites where traditional boat building takes place.
In Matondoni, we observed boat repair activities and met women’s groups engaged in weaving, gaining a first-hand understanding of local production processes. Travelling along the coast, we also experienced the mangrove ecosystems that characterise the island, as well as the richness of Swahili culture and cuisine.
On 25th March, two dedicated workshops were held. The first brought together artisans, craftspeople, boat builders, poets and artists to explore production processes, challenges and future perspectives. The second workshop engaged tourism operators — including guides, boat captains and hospitality professionals — to better understand the connections between cultural production and tourism.
The mission provided key insights into both challenges and opportunities, contributing to the next steps in supporting the growth of Lamu’s creative and cultural sector.

For more information, please visit www.keios.it

We are pleased to announce that Keios has been awarded by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture of The Gambia, with support from the World Bank, a consultancy for the development and implementation of an additional tourism product at Albreda and Juffureh.

The assignment will contribute to strengthening the overall visitor experience across these two sites of outstanding historical and cultural significance, which form part of the Kunta Kinteh Island and Related Sites UNESCO World Heritage Site, supporting The Gambia’s strategy to diversify its tourism offer beyond coastal destinations. Through technical expertise, stakeholder engagement, and integrated planning, the project aims to enhance interpretation, improve visitor engagement, and ensure alignment with heritage preservation and community values.

We are proud to begin working again with the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, the Project Implementation Unit, and all stakeholders involved in this important initiative.

To find out more, please visit www.keios.it

Cruising through Lamu Island

Strong local and institutional engagement for the Oni Spatial and Urban Development Plans

Last week was an intense and very rewarding one in Georgia.

Two research workshops — held in Oni and Tbilisi — successfully concluded the Research phase of the Oni Spatial and Urban Development Plans, prepared for SUDA with funding from the Asian Development Bank.

The workshop in Oni, set against a snowy mountain landscape, showed an exceptionally high level of engagement from the local community. Despite very difficult road conditions, participants from Ghebi were able to join the discussions, albeit with some delay — a strong signal of commitment and interest. The workshop opened with remarks by David Lobzhanidze, Mayor of Oni Municipality, and Kakhaber Niauri, Head of Spatial and Urban Development and International Programs at SUDA.
Our team — led by Raffaele Gorjux, with Irakli Murghulia (Deputy Team Leader), Simon Woodward (Local Economic Development), and Kakha Bakhtadze (Environment) — then presented the main findings of the research reports. After the coffee break, participants worked in four thematic groups to discuss the SWOT analysis. Each group appointed a rapporteur, and the workshop concluded with the presentation of consolidated conclusions.

The Tbilisi workshop followed a more formal format, with strong participation from central-level stakeholders. The Mayor of Oni also attended this session. The same structure was applied, with the second part dedicated to questions, comments, and discussion, allowing for valuable institutional feedback.

Overall, the outcome is very positive: the research findings and conclusions have been fully confirmed and further enriched by additional information and perspectives shared during the workshops. A big thank you to Nani Macharashvili for her excellent organisation and facilitation of both events.

We now look ahead to the Visioning and Strategy phase, building on a solid and widely shared analytical foundation.

To find out more about the project, visit www.keios.it