WTTC president to discuss impact of Nairobi siege on tourism

David Scowsill, president of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), will discuss the impact of the Nairobi siege on tourism at 12:00 noon today, Nairobi time, the organizers of the ongoing Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF), taking place in Nairobi September 23-25, 2013, have confirmed.

Mr. Scowsill, in a statement issued Sunday, said: “Despite this terrible incident in the shopping Centre in Nairobi and the appalling loss of life, I am planning to fly to Nairobi on Monday to attend the Africa Hotel Investment Forum. It is important that the travel industry supports Kenya at this difficult time.”

The ongoing hotel investment conference in Africa, organizers added, has attracted “many prominent international hotel owners, investors, financiers, management companies and their advisers.”

The conference, WTTC says, is receiving support from the Kenyan government by way of sponsorship from the Kenya Tourist Development Corporation (KTDC) and the presence of the tourism minister Hon. Phyllis Kandie MP.

According to WTTC, the speakers’ lineup features government ministers from four countries and dozens of CEOs and board-level executives from the most important companies building and running hotels across Africa. Among government officials scheduled to attend include Kenya Tourism Secretary Kandie, Mozambique Tourism Minister Carvalho Muaria, Uganda Tourism Minister Maria Mutagamba and Madagascar Tourism Minister Jean Max Rakotomamonjy. From the private sector, CEOs from Hilton Worldwide, Marriott International, Inc., ACCOR, Kempinski Hotels, Movenpick Hotels & Resorts, Lonrho Hotels, among others are scheduled to make an appearance within the next two days.

According to WTTC, Travel & Tourism is one of Kenya’s largest industries, responsible for 12.5 percent of GDP, KES 450 bn, and 11% of total employment, which is equivalent to 600,000 jobs.