Utalii to train tourism players on safety and security management

Hospitality training institution, Kenya Utalii College, will sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF) to train personnel on threats to safety and security within the industry.

The MoA to be signed later this month, aims to bring together the private sector and academia to counter insecurity. The college will carry out safety and security management training in Kenya’s tourism and hospitality industry. Also, the College, together with the Kenya Association of Women in Tourism (KAWT), in the process of finalising a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) allowing for collaboration between the two organisations.

The collaboration will see the two institutions undertake joint activities intended to promote professionalism within the industry. The two activities were carried out following meetings held at the College under the chairmanship of the Principal, Dr Kenneth Ombongi. “We have decided to scale up our engagement with the industry in the wake of insecurity cases threatening to cripple our local industry. The two memoranda in the process of signing are aimed at ensuring that we make our contribution and provide solutions as scholars, to the myriad obstacles facing the industry.” said Dr Ombongi.

In March, 2015 Dr Ombongi will attend the Association of Hospitality and Tourism Schools in Africa (AHTSA) bi-annual conference in Johannesburg, South Africa in his capacity as the Secretary General.

The association, which is the only one in Africa, brings together more than 27 hospitality and tourism schools drawn from over 15 countries on the continent.

Two months later in May, 2015, the College will, through AHTSA, host a continental competition that will bring together all member schools. The competition will augment the current National Tourism Competition (NTC) that is held at the institution every year.