NAIROBI, Kenya — Former Tourism Minister Najib Balala has been appointed to the leadership team of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), marking a major international role for the veteran Kenyan tourism leader.
Balala has taken up the position of Executive Vice-President for Advocacy, Government Affairs, and Research at WTTC’s global headquarters in Madrid, Spain.
In his new role, he will oversee the organisation’s global advocacy strategy, government engagement, and tourism policy research as the council seeks to strengthen collaboration between governments and the private sector within the global travel industry.
WTTC is regarded as one of the world’s most influential tourism industry bodies, representing the private sector in travel and tourism policy discussions globally.
Balala brings more than a decade of high-level government experience to the position, having served as Kenya’s Tourism and Wildlife Minister for over 12 years under successive administrations.
During his tenure, he became one of Africa’s most visible tourism policymakers, helping shape regional and international tourism strategies while championing public-private partnerships within Kenya’s tourism sector.
His leadership during periods of political instability and the COVID-19 pandemic earned recognition within the global tourism industry. During the pandemic, Kenya became the first country globally to receive the “Safer Tourism Seal” after implementing health and safety measures aimed at reviving international travel.
Industry stakeholders also credited Balala with advancing destination branding campaigns that helped position Kenya as a leading tourism destination in Africa.
In a statement following the appointment, Balala said he looked forward to contributing his experience in bridging government and private sector interests within the global tourism space.
“It is an honour and a privilege to be selected by WTTC for this role,” he said. “I’ll be bringing my experience bridging the private and public sectors to WTTC’s overall strategic roadmap and ensuring it has strong relations with all stakeholders in governments and beyond.”
Balala will report directly to Gloria Guevara, the WTTC President and Chief Executive Officer.
Guevara welcomed the appointment, describing Balala as a seasoned global tourism leader whose government experience would strengthen the organisation’s advocacy efforts.
“Najib Balala’s substantial experience as a Cabinet Minister on the world stage will help WTTC grow our sector even further,” she said.
She added that the council continues to attract new members and expand its global influence as the tourism industry recovers and adapts to emerging economic and geopolitical challenges.
Balala’s appointment places another Kenyan figure in a prominent international policy role and underscores Kenya’s growing influence in global tourism governance.
