Centre for Tourism Training and Research (CTTR) was established in 1999 as a result of the need by many Wildlife Clubs of Kenya (WCK) members in high schools to continue with environmental & wildlife conservation practices and education. As such WCK responded to the members’ needs by establishing a middle level college named Centre for Tourism Training & Research. The Centre opened its doors for training in January, 1999 with 22 students. Now the college hosts more than 200 students annually. It is fully registered with Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) as a public institution.
Centre for Tourism Training & Research is fully owned by WCK. It responds to the challenges posed by the increasing demands for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD); the need for sustainable tourism sector development in the country and contributes to career development needs of WCK student members and the public at large. The diversification of tourist products and tourist circuits in Kenya requires appropriate and relevant innovation, marketing strategies and competent personnel in terms of knowledge, skills and adaptability to changes; CTTR offers these to its students. CTTR is a strategic stakeholder in the wildlife, conservation and tourism sectors.
CTTR graduates are well placed in key positions within conservation, hospitality and tourism sectors because its trainings are focused on producing personnel with requisite knowledge, skills and capacities in tourism, hospitality, wildlife and conservation. This has seen many being absorbed in leading tourism wildlife and hospitality organizations within the Kenya and overseas in the United States, Europe and the Middle East. The research component of the training constantly enriches the courses and informs the overall training policy and direction of the college. CTTR main thrust involves training, action and reflection. The reflections and action are continuous processes that help the college to remain a credible actor in the tourism and wildlife industry.
As at 2018, the 50 years of WCK’s conservation education experience has immensely enriched CTTR’s training which has a good blend of both theory and practice.