A New Chapter For The Kenyan Tourism ?

Last week on Friday 10th December, 2010 the Kenyan Minister for Tourism Hon. Najib Balala appointed Mr. Michael Joseph formerly chief executive officer of Safaricom, one of the leading telecommunication network provider.The appointment was in effect from 1st December, 2010 and is bound to last for the next 3 years.

Mr.Joseph replaces Mr. Jake Grieves-Cook,long-serving chairman whose terms ended on 30th November,2010.He served as the chairman foe 2 consecutive years , whereby through his term KTB managed to put up aggressive marketing campaigns targeting domestic and international tourists. The board is credited for diversification of the tourism market by additional market presence they put up in India,China, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Japan, Poland and Turkey.Furthermore during Mr.Grieves-Cook term,the board also partnered with international travel and leisure organizations as well as the media and airlines to build a strong image for Kenya as a tourist destination.

" I congratulate the Minister on the choice of Michael Joseph to be chairman of KTB and i believe he will bring a wealth of valuable experience which will be of immense help in achieving great things for the tourism sector in the future.I am sure this appointment will be welcome news to all of us in tourism" These were the words of Jake Grieves-Cook and true to his words,the tourism industry workers and the Kenyan people well received the news with optimism, hoping that this business manager typhoon would enact his expertise in tourism and give it a new face as he did with the mobile/ telecommunications network industry while he was at Safaricom.

Please,share with us your comments and thoughts on the new appointment, do you think he is the right man for the job?