Mombasa, Kenya: As an epiphany Africa has realised that is under represented at the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Affiliate board. And this great realization has been
brought to the fore by none other than Regional Vice-President for Africa at the UNWTO Kenneth Ombongi, He said that mandate, activities and operations of the organisation’s affiliate members board and its 400 members are not very well understood in Africa and perhaps the rest of the developing world.
Dr Ombongi, who is also the Kenya Utalii College Principal, urged the 23-member board to
work on modalities that would increase its membership and create awareness about its activities in Africa. “Out of the more than 400 UNWTO Affiliate Members, only a paltry 17 are from Africa,” he noted while speaking on the sidelines of this year’s edition of the Invest Tour, Madrid, Spain. “From East Africa, for example, there are only three members and all from Kenya, which include Kenya Utalii College, Kenyatta International Convention Centre and Kenya Tourism Board (KTB),” he added. Ombongi said with the support of the board he would champion awareness meetings in Africa. He said he would be travelling to Rwanda shortly for a recruitment drive.
work on modalities that would increase its membership and create awareness about its activities in Africa. “Out of the more than 400 UNWTO Affiliate Members, only a paltry 17 are from Africa,” he noted while speaking on the sidelines of this year’s edition of the Invest Tour, Madrid, Spain. “From East Africa, for example, there are only three members and all from Kenya, which include Kenya Utalii College, Kenyatta International Convention Centre and Kenya Tourism Board (KTB),” he added. Ombongi said with the support of the board he would champion awareness meetings in Africa. He said he would be travelling to Rwanda shortly for a recruitment drive.
Training quality Beginning with his own college, Utalii, Ombongi said he would sign a memorandum of understanding with the UNWTO to facilitate staff and student exchanges,
sourcing of training materials and strengthening of the UNWTO’s training quality certification programme (TEDQUAL) for African hospitality and tourism schools. Kenya Utalii College is the only holder of this certification in Africa.
sourcing of training materials and strengthening of the UNWTO’s training quality certification programme (TEDQUAL) for African hospitality and tourism schools. Kenya Utalii College is the only holder of this certification in Africa.
“As the Secretary of the Association of Hospitality and Tourism Schools in Africa, we will
work closely with the UNWTO to promote quality and standards in hospitality education in
the continent,’’ he said. In the meantime, tourism has been identified as a key driver of global economies. And to maximise its contribution to the socio-economic development of nations, it is important to recognise the challenges posed by rapid changes in habits, choices and demands of tourists as well as the emergence of new players and business models
work closely with the UNWTO to promote quality and standards in hospitality education in
the continent,’’ he said. In the meantime, tourism has been identified as a key driver of global economies. And to maximise its contribution to the socio-economic development of nations, it is important to recognise the challenges posed by rapid changes in habits, choices and demands of tourists as well as the emergence of new players and business models
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