Executive Board
Cuthbert Ncube
Chairman, South Africa
Cuthbert Ncube is the current chairman of the African Tourism Board. He was the Regional Vice President of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the Chief Executive Director of Kwela Fleet Management, South Africa and Golden Feathers Lodge in Cape Town. He has over 20 years’ experience in business leadership and business development, including his role as the regional vice president of the UNWTO.
In 2013 Kwela Fleet Management was accepted as an Affiliate Member to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation which is an organ of the United Nations. In the same year of 2013 during the United Nations World Tourism Organisation General Assembly in Zambia, Mr. Ncube was elected as the Regional Vice – President of the United Nations World Tourism Organization Affiliate Members – Africa and also serves as a Board Member. He was re-elected in September 2015 at the Plenary Session of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation General Assembly in Madeline Columbia, 2017 saw him being re-elected again in London during the Plenary Session as he is serving his 3 rd term.
Cuthbert’s areas of expertise include strategic management, business development, International Relations, Cooperate Governance and customer service. He also has other business interests in the tourism industry including journalism and brand management.
Before getting involved in his current profession, Cuthbert maintained affiliation with all key role player of Africa Tourism Industry including Cape Town Tourism, the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Africa Tourism Partners and RETOSA. He also collaborates with other African tourism experts to create economic development opportunities for Africans, particularly, in tourism, travel, and hospitality. He currently serves on numerous boards.
http://kwelafleet.co.za/ cn@africantourismboard.africa
Dr. Taleb Rifai
Patron, Jordan
Dr. Taleb Rifai is a patron of the African Tourism Board. Born in 1949) he is a Jordanian economist who was the Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) based in Madrid, Spain, until December 31, 2017, having held the post since being unanimously elected in 2010.
Dr. Taleb Rifai was elected as Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization at the General Assembly in Astana, Kazakhstan, held in October 2009 at which time he began his 4-year term on January 1, 2010.
He assumed the functions of Secretary-General ad interim of the World Tourism Organization from March 1, 2009 and served as Deputy Secretary-General from February 2006 to February 2009.
Mr. Rifai has an extensive background in international and national public service, the private sector, and academia. Prior to joining UNWTO, he was the Assistant Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO). Mr. Rifai has also served in several ministerial portfolios in the Government of Jordan – Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Minister of Information, and Minister of Tourism and Antiquity.
As CEO of Jordan’s Cement Company, Mr. Rifai successfully led the first large-scale privatization and restructuring scheme in Jordan during the mid-1990s.
Other positions he has held include Director of the Economic Mission to Washington DC and Director General of the Investment Promotion Corporation of Jordan. Until 1993, Mr. Rifai was involved in research, teaching, and practicing architecture and urban design in Jordan and the USA.
He has a Ph.D. in Urban Design and Regional Planning from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, an M.A. in Engineering and Architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) in Chicago, and a BS.c. in Architectural Engineering from the University of Cairo in Egypt.