Dr. Carmen Nibingira, a key figure in East African tourism, passed away, leaving the industry in mourning. Her pioneering work included the EA single visa and regional marketing.
News broke about the sad passing of Dr Carmen Nibingira and the Tourism Industry of East Africa have been messaging each other with shock and surprise.
“We are all devastated as East Africa tourism stakeholders” said Jacinta Nzioka who worked alongside Dr Carmen Nibingira for many years when she was at the Kenya Tourism Board.
Those who’ve been in the industry long know Dr Carmen Nibingira, pioneer CEO of the East Africa Tourism Platform. The tourism regional private sector around 2013-2016. It is during her tenure that East Africa (EA) countries developed a joint marketing strategy, brand, EA single visa and actively marketing as one destination. She was a gentle soul, very loving, a true and dear friend of so many in the world of tourism.
When Dr Carmen Nibingira left the East Africa Tourism Platform (EATP) and relocated to Kigali, she was a consultant with Howarth, then Mastercard and still actively involved with tourism policy within the region. She is known to have been an astute reader and a respected academic. She often would write and was actively involved with tourism training in Kigali where she served as a guest lecturer and mentor. “My peer, accountability partner and dear friend” said Jacinta Nzioka of Kenya who was in tears.
Alain St.Ange, the Head of Saint Ange Tourism Consultancy and the former Seychelles Minister responsible for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine said that Dr Carmen Nibingira was a true believer in Africa and of its tourism industry. “I met Dr Carmen in 2016 when I was running to be Secretary General of the UNWTO and she invited me to address a tourism industry event in Kampala in Uganda and to meet the continent’s press. I did not know Dr Carmen Nibingira at that time but was impressed by her desire for Africa not to miss the opportunity to lead the UNWTO and said that it was important for Tourism Africa to know the candidates coming from the African Continent”. and added that Africa had lost a tourism leader who worked with passion and with her heart.
This post was originally published on here
