The VA TourismPodcast

Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO aims to preserve natural and cultural heritage by empowering communities

My podcast today is coming to you from one of Arabian peninsula’s oldest cities of Alula where the second edition of the Best Tourism Villages is being held. Sandra Carvao, the head of Market Intelligence and Competitiveness at UNWTO unpacks the objectives of the Best Tourism Villages project and its unique role in transforming rural communities.
 

Deputy CEO of Uganda Tourism Board Bradford Ochieng outlines driving pillars of its Recovery efforts

In today’s episode, the deputy CEO of the Uganda Tourism Board Bradford Ochieng on the sidelines of this year’s Meetings Africa outlines Uganda’s main pillars in its recovery efforts. He also delves into air access to the east African country and invites the world to the upcoming Pearl of Africa Expo.
 

Unravelling the story behind African Adventure Specialists with Andrew Kitema

My conversation today is with the managing co-owner of Nairobi-based African Adventure Specialists Andrew Kitema. Andrew along with his business partner Martin Tobiko Koipa have carved a niche for themselves as one of Africa’s leading young tourism businesses offering authentic and bespoke services. He takes a deep dive into Kenya and Africa’s tourism recovery while imploring the continent's governments to eliminate bottlenecks to spur growth
 

Africa Travel Week :Megan de Jäger outlines novelty-filled 2023 event

In today’s episode, the portfolio Director of Africa Travel Week Megan De Jager outlines activities planned for this year’s show scheduled to take place in Cape Town, South from 3-5 April. She believes the maiden WTM Africa Awards offers an exciting opportunity to reward outstanding personalities and entities who have impacted the tourism sector.
Her role includes taking full accountability for the planning and operational management of all aspects of the portfolio, contributing significantly to the development and implementation of Reed’s strategy and to deliver exceptional performance through effective collaboration, management and development of others.
As part of Megan’s role, she builds closer relationships with the key players within the industry and gains a broader insight into the fundamental issues affecting each show’s industry.
After almost 8 years working in Marketing with Tourvest, Megan joined Reed Exhibitions in 2015 as the Marketing Manager for WTM Africa and IBTM Africa where she oversaw and drove world-class branding and communications for two successful travel trade exhibitions. In 2017, Megan then assumed the role of General Marketing Manager adding the brand ILTM Africa to her portfolio. In this role, she passionately promoted the WTM Africa, ILTM Africa and IBTM Africa brands and oversaw all the events’ relative marketing aspects.
In May 2018, Megan was promoted to Portfolio General Manager for Reed Exhibitions South Africa’s Travel, Tourism and Sport department which includes various dynamic trade and consumer shows namely; WTM Africa, ILTM Africa, IBTM Africa and FIBO Global Fitness Africa. Following a year as GM, Megan was made Portfolio Director in May 2019.Megan and her team passionately use the exhibition and eventing platforms to create opportunities for Travel & Tourism industry brands to market their products and services to a captive audience through face-to-face interaction using all of the 5 senses.

Understanding the uniqueness of the Iconic Okavango Delta; A conversation with Dux Mareja

My Podcast today is coming to you from the iconic Okavango Delta in Botswana, where  Dux Mareja of Xaranna Okavango Delta Camp, part of the Nbeyond Group walks me through the uniqueness and why one needs to visit.
The Okavango Delta in northwest Botswana comprises permanent marshlands and seasonally flooded plains. It is one of the very few major interior delta systems that do not flow into a sea or ocean, with a wetland system that is almost intact. One of the unique characteristics of the site is that the annual flooding from the River Okavango occurs during the dry season, with the result that the native plants and animals have synchronized their biological cycles with these seasonal rains and floods. It is an exceptional example of the interaction between climatic, hydrological and biological processes. The Okavango Delta is home to some of the world’s most endangered species of large mammal, such as the cheetah, white rhinoceros, black rhinoceros, African wild dog and lion.
Dux is a passionate Nature Conservationist with a wealth of experience in the Tourism industry spanning over a period of twenty 20 years (6) years of admin and marketing and fourteen (14 years) within the field of guiding, (7 years as full-time guiding and fulfilling H/Guides roles & responsibilities and 7years now as ranger trainer and specialist guides in various fields including birding). He is always seeking new challenges where I am given an opportunity to grow with the company, helping the company achieve its ultimate goals under the component of human development.
A high degree of commitment, honesty, and reliability are some of the assets I would bring to any workplace. Dux has strong organizational and administrative skills with the highest ability to work independently without supervision. I enjoy working under pressure to meet tight deadlines. I am well-rounded in tourism industry needs and expectations, and a great ambassador to the company and the country of Botswana.
He is also capable of working in a multicultural team as I adapt to new cultures very easily. My previous and current positions involved working with large groups of people including external stakeholders. My dedication to a cause and high level of responsibility has always made me an asset to any organization.
 

State of Tourism in Maldives and outlook for 2023: A conversation with CEO of MMPRC Thoyyib Mohamed

In today’s episode, we take a look at the state of tourism in the Maldives and it’s quest to collaborate with partners to offer more airlifts to the sunny side of life from the Africa region. The CEO and Managing Director of Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation Thoyyib Mohamed tells me the new strategies of Maldives is to ensure that they move forward in a way that is environmentally sustainable, economically feasible, and preserves the integrity and value of its cultural heritage for generations to come.
Thoyyib Mohamed has over two decades of extensive experience in management, strategic planning, marketing, and international networking, with an emphasis on fostering creativity for executive managers. 
Being appointed to his current portfolio by H.E. President of Maldives in 2018, he played an instrumental role in navigating MMPRC to market the destination through the pandemic. Under his leadership at MMPRC, Maldives achieved the highest tourist arrival figure in Maldives history and Maldives won the position of the World’s Leading Destination for two consecutive years amidst the pandemic
A Bournemouth University graduate with a Master of Arts in Broadcast and Film Management, his career began in the broadcast field. Later he held various high-profile positions in the government such as the Chairman of MMPRC and the Minister of State for Tourism, Arts and Culture.

Africa’s Travel Trade hails the return of Botswana Travel & Tourism Expo

My conversation today is an interaction with the travel and tourism trade who participated at the return of this year’s Botswana Travel and Tourism Expo in Kasane. From SMEs to international tourism buyers, they share their impressions about the show as well as how the industry has changed post the pandemic.

UNWTO Digital Futures Program will accelerate the adoption of technologies in the Tourism Value Chain

My Guest today is the Director of Innovation, Education, and Investments at the World Tourism Organization, Natalia Bayona. UNWTO at its recent 117th Executive Council Session in Marrakesh, Morocco announced a partnership with the Moroccan authorities to accelerate the digitalization process of 10,000 SMEs through its Digital Futures Program. Natalia in this conversation unpacks the figures and rationale behind this project.
Natalia Bayona leads the innovation, education and investment strategy of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the United Nations specialized agency for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and accessible tourism worldwide.
With a diverse background in politics, destination management and business, she has become the first innovation director at UNWTO, has introduced entrepreneurship and education as key factors for tourism and development, and has positioned UNWTO as an innovation benchmark within the wider United Nations system as recognized in the UN 2020 Mapping of Innovation, Data, and Digital Capacities. Furthermore, she has joined the UN Executive Leadership Programme for Sustainable Development led by the UN System Staff College (UNSSC).
Her work consists of identifying the most disruptive startups and investment projects and matching them with Member States and leading corporations. As an advocate of youth and technology, she seeks to make entrepreneurs grow for a promising future in all regions.