REPUBLIC OF KENYA

MINISTRY OF EAST AFRICAN AFFAIRS, COMMERCE AND TOURISM

Press Release: Immediate release
KENYA ELECTED TO UNWTO EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Medellin, Colombia, 14 September:

Kenya has been elected to the highest

decision making body of the United Nation World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)
Executive Council. The country will now sit at the helm of the UN affiliate body that
coordinates tourism issues and programs worldwide for a period of two years until the
end of 2017. Kenyas nomination was confirmed as part of the ongoing 21 st UNWTO
General Assembly in the Colombia city of Medellin.
Kenya will join the executive council, which comprises of 31 members. It is the
governing body of the UNWTO that brings together 154 countries into single global
tourism organizations and sets the agenda for the global tourism sector.
The UN body supports countries facing challenges related to tourism matters and
Kenya has been a major beneficiary of UNWTO support as its secretary General, also a
former Tourism Minister of Jordan, Dr Taleb Rifai has visited Kenya twice this year to
offer his support and endorsement for the country. UNWTO has also assisted in the
development of a crisis management handbook, which will be shared among the
players across the globe.
After the elections East Africa, Commerce and Tourism Cabinet Secretary Phyllis
Kandie, said: Kenya is privileged to be accorded the opportunity to represent East
Africa and the African continent at the council.
It is a big honor, the East African Community (EAC) is one of the fastest growing
regional economic blocks in the world. It is also endowed with some of the most
remarkable touristic attraction to be found anywhere in the globe concluded Hon
Phyllis Kandie.

Already the region has launched a single tourism visa and at the recent UNWTO
meeting in Mombasa, EAC is working on a joint marketing board to package the region
as a single destination.
Hon Kandie also supported the proposal for setting up the Official Development
Assistance (ODA) program to aid member states develop their tourism sector leading
to wealth and job creation.
Globally the tourism sector has become a foundation for economic growth, source for
foreign exchange, job and wealth creation as well as medium for human interaction
she added.
Among the agenda for discussion include the UNWTO Forum on Talent, Development
Tourism, Investing in Youth, Tourism and Sustainability, Tourism and Air Transport
Development, Tourism and Competitiveness.
Cabinet Secretary Phyllis Kandie who is accompanied by Kenyas ambassador to Spain
Ambassador Bramwel Kisuya, Kenya Tourism Board MD Muriithi Ndegwa, Utalii College
Principal Dr Kenneth Ombogi and Tourism Secretary Dr Anne Kinyua will also
participate in several panel discussion.
She invited the delegates at the Assembly to attend the forthcoming Africa Travel
Association congress from the 9th to 14th November, later this year at the Kenyatta
International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, Kenya.
The Executive council comprises of 31 members. It is the governing body of the
UNWTO that brings together 154 countries into single global tourism organizations and
sets the agenda for the global tourism sector.
For more information contact:
Name: John Kaplich
Title: Head of Communications, East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism
Email: kbarsito@gmail.com
Name: Richard Bailey
Title: Media Strategy Director, Grayling
Email: Richard.Bailey@grayling.com

Phone: +254 712 660983

Name: Victoria Johnson
Title: Client Director, Grayling
Email: Victoria.Johnson@grayling.com
Phone: +971569327530