World tourism body appoints Kenyan woman as first African on its board

Director of Marketing at Kenya Tourism Board, Jacinta Nzioka joins the World Tourism Forum Lucerne Advisory Board as a member.

Announcing her appointment, Chairman of the Board Reto Witter said, ‘’ After a detailed talent search process, Jacinta Nzioka, Director of Marketing of the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB), has just been appointed as the 24th member and the first representative from Africa in the Advisory Board.

As Director of Marketing of KTB, Jacinta Nzioka has excellent knowledge in tourism marketing and is highly experienced in the field of community-based tourism and sustainable development.’’

Jacinta Nzioka is part of the six people who have been newly named to join the Board. The rest include: Aboulfas Garayev – Culture and Tourism Minister Azerbaijan, Isabel Hill -Director National Travel & Tourism Office, US Dept. of Commerce, Michael Kerkloh – President & CEO Munich Airport, Simon Lehmann -President Phocuswright, and Manfred Schoenleben – CEO TMC Partners.

In her remarks Ms. Nzioka stated that, “Kenya is a key player in tourism in Africa and one of the global leaders in sustainable tourism. Through my seat on the Advisory Board of the World Tourism Lucerne, I am offered an ideal opportunity to share and deepen my personal know-how and experience with like-minded professionals. For me this is an excellent chance to contribute actively to the future success and sustainability of tourism worldwide.’’

On the mandate of the Board, Mr.Witter indicated, ‘’we provide professional advice and assistance to the World Tourism Forum Lucerne and we often act as a “door opener”. Through the extensive expertise and know-how of our members, we ensure that the Forum is always in touch with the changing times. It is due to the commitment and networking excellence of the Advisory Board’s members that the Forum has in recent years been able to position itself as a globally relevant tourism platform.’’

The members of the international Advisory Board represent a wide range of travel and tourism sectors. This multi-sectorial make-up ensures that emerging destinations also have their place at the World Tourism Forum Lucerne as well as global concerns and locally based service providers.

The World Tourism Forum Lucerne will take place in central Switzerland for the fifth time from 4 to 5 May 2017. Within the framework of the Forum’s global orientation and expansion, an international Advisory Board has been supporting the event since its launching in 2009. With their touristic insight and expertise, the Board is assisting in the planning and staging of this year’s event.

The Tourism Forum Lucerne is an interdisciplinary professional platform which takes place annually, alternately in Lucerne (Switzerland) and –from 2018 – China. It offers decision-makers in business, politics, science and finance an overview of current topics and trends in the global tourism industry. It is also the only international platform which enables leading decision-makers and emerging young talets in the industry to interact under the ‘’Next Generation’’ designation.