Tanzania and Kenya Institutes partner in E.A. hospitality industry

ARUSHA, Tanzania (Xinhua) -- Tanzania’s Hotel and Tourism Training Institute (VHTTI) and Kenya’s Utalii College (KUC) on Friday agreed to partner in producing competent human resources in the East African tourism and hospitality industry. VHTTI is operated under the Vocational Education and Training Authority (VETA)-- Tanzania’s autonomous agency in charge of coordinating, regulating, financing, providing and promoting vocational education and training.
Speaking soon after sealing the pact in Arusha, VHTTI’s Principal Flora Hakika said the decision was anchored by East African Community’s regional integration process, aiming at widening and deepening cooperation among Partner States in political and social fields for mutual benefits.

She said the cooperation in tourism and wildlife management which was mandated under article 115 and 116 of EAC Treaty, which state that:
"The Partner States shall establish a common code of conduct for private and public tour and travel operators, standardize hotel classification and harmonize the professional standards of agents in the tourism and travel industry within the community."
"This was the driving force behind the need for collaboration and the fact that way back in 2008, VETA and KUC held discussions on collaboration whereby KUC agreed to train VHTTI teaching staff, " Hakika said, adding that her college will benefit a lot from the 45-year-old training institute in the region.

KUC’s Principal Dr. Kenneth Ombongi said the agreement will take tourism and hospitality industry into the highest height in the region and the rest of Africa.
"Under this agreement, the two training institutes will be exchanging notes on how better to improve human resources working in the sector," Ombongi said, adding that EA region needs people who are well-trained in different aspects