AFRICAN TRAVEL AND TOURISM ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES THE ELECTION OF JOHN CORSE AS CHAIRMAN AND OF NICK ASLIN AS VICE CHAIRMAN
(Posted 30th September 2020)
Fiona Jeffery OBE, until today Chairperson of the African Travel and Tourism Association, is stepping down following the election of Tanzania based John Corse as the new chairman of Africa’s premier tourism association. Also newly elected was Vice Chair Nick Aslin who is based in Southern Africa. This transition effectively signals that ATTA’s membership was keen to see these two key offices to be held by highly respected individuals based on the continent, while the association’s location in the UK represents the global nature of the ATTA.
John Corse brings a wealth of experience in African tourism and commerce with him. He is currently Managing Director of Serengeti Balloon Safaris, a Director of both Tanzania Association of Tours Operators (TATO) and Responsible Tourism Tanzania, as well as Chairman of Arusha Bicycle Centre, a social enterprise.
Born and brought up in Kenya, he found a natural love of the outdoors, spending most school holidays out and about in the many wilderness areas of the country, often on horseback or by camel. He was educated in the UK and gained a degree in Economics and Agricultural Economics at the University of Exeter. He served 6 years as a British Army officer in the UK and further afield, earning a Commendation for Valuable Service whilst on active duty in Bosnia.
Returning to Tanzania in 1998 firstly as Manager of Sand Rivers in the Selous Game Reserve, then as General Manager of Tanzania Tea Packers. He is a founder member of the Aids Business Coalition of Tanzania. He served for 8 years as Managing Director of Nomad Tanzania. In 2015, he joined Fastjet Tanzania, an African low-cost air carrier, becoming General Manager. John has served four years on ATTA® boards as a director in 2015/16 and from 2019 representing Tanzania on the newly formed Global Advisory Board.
He is passionate about African travel, the environment that sustains it and the communities that are its stakeholders. He believes strongly in the principle that tourism transfers wealth to these fragile places and their people, protecting their future and helping to develop their countries. He is a bridge-builder, who likes to encourage a collaborative approach to complex problems.
Said Nigel Vere Nicoll, President of ATTA to ATCNews when making the announcement:
“ATTA®’s management and membership welcomes the two year appointments of John Corse, based in East Africa, as Chair and Nick Aslin, based in Southern Africa as Vice Chair. John brings a unique wealth of experience as both a supplier and buyer of East African products across many disciplines including camp & lodge management, tour operating, aviation and commerce. Nick also brings his extensive knowledge of Southern Africa to the table and is elected Vice Chair. He is the founder and owner of Zambian Ground Handlers and former Managing Director of Norman Carr Safaris. He is currently a trustee of Conservation South Luanga and Vice Chair of Wildlife Crime Protection.
John has deep shoes to fill, taking over as Chair from Fiona Jeffery OBE who has headed up the ATTA® team for the last two years and we thank her for her inspirational leadership and wise council. Fiona will take on a new role as a consultant to Experience Africa, ATTA®’s flagship event held annually in London.”
ATCNews wishes both John and Nick the very best for the coming two years.
ATTA continues to expand in both Africa and beyond and remains Africa’s largest private sector tourism association with members coming from across the world, united in their quest to promote travel to and across Africa.
