The VA TourismPodcast

The Live Return of MKTE has come at the right time- Kenya Tourism Board CEO

In today’s episode, the CEO of the Kenya Tourism Board Dr. Betty Radier walks me through the activities earmarked for the return of the country’s flagship event the Magical Kenya Travel Expo. She says the show would provide an ideal opportunity for the travel industry to network and explore business opportunities in person.

International Tourism Fair of Mozambique (FIKANI) will help in our recovery efforts- Marco Dos Anjos

My Guest is the Director General of Mozambique’s National Institute of Tourism Marco Dos Anjos. Marco walks me through the policies put in place by the Government to revive the tourism sector. He is optimistic the upcoming International Tourism Fair of Mozambique (FIKANI) will further quicken the country’s recovery.
 

Why African Destinations should focus on MICE and Business Events: A conversation with ICCA’s Esmaré Steinhöfel

In today’s conversation, the Regional Director for Africa of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) Esmare Steinhofel weighs in on the role of business events in the recovery of tourism in Africa. Esmare points to training as an essential element in developing Africa's  MICE industry.
Esmaré currently fulfils the role of Regional Director for Africa for the International Congress and Convention Association.  Her key focus is to deliver ICCA services, products and events, for the recruitment and retention of members and for maintaining and enhancing ICCA’s reputation and awareness amongst target markets. 
She has extensive experience in the international marketing and sales arena. Before joining ICCA, she managed the International Sales portfolio at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). 
Prior to her joining the CTICC she worked at Arabella Starwood South Africa, promoting the 5* Westin Cape Town and the Arabella Western Cape Hotel & Spa.   She was also part of the opening team that started the Cape Town Convention Bureau where she fulfilled the role of promoting Cape Town to the meetings, incentive, conference and exhibition industry with a focus on Association Marketing and Research.
Esmaré is currently a member of SAACI, the Southern African Association for the Conference Industry, and has served on the SAACI National Board as Venues Forum Chair as is currently a Board member of the SAACI Western Cape Chapter.  She also served on the Board of the African Society of Association Executives.
She has been awarded the SAACI Fellowship Award in 2017 as well as the Top 40 Women in MICE in both 2017 and 2015. 
 

Enhanced e-Visa Platform for Nigerian Travellers to South Africa goes Live

In today’s episode, the Chief Operating Officer of South African Tourism Nomasonto Ndlovu discusses the newly introduced Enhanced e-visa platform for Nigerian travelers to South Africa. The SAT Executive also reflects on the latest tourism recovery figures as well as feedback on their just-ended roadshow in Ghana and Nigeria.
 

Maldives invites Africa to experience the sunny side of Life

My Guest today is the CEO and Managing Director of Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation Mr. Thoyyib Mohamed. He tells me the joint efforts of the island’s tourism industry have seen the destination accelerate its recovery efforts. Mr. Mohamed invites Africa and the world to come and experience the sunny side of life.
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.
 

The Fascinating Africa by Bus Story

In today’s episode, the coordinator of Africa by bus project and lecturer at the University of Johannesburg Maipato Caroline Mmako says the aim of Africa by bus initiative is to expose the University of Johannesburg students to different African countries and cultures.
Maipato Caroline Mmako Lecturer, Coordinator and Learning Development facilitator at the University of Johannesburg. Passionate about student success and advancement, she believes that learning has to happen both inside and outside the classroom and that’s why she jumped on the Africa by Bus initiative and has been the only lecturer to have taken more than 180 students on the Africa by Bus trip. 
I believe that young people deserve the opportunity to travel and see the world, this opens and changes one’s perspective about it. Learning about new cultures and experiencing them allows for our people to be global citizens and more accepting of the differences and similarities we share as people. My favourite say is “if it involves young people, count me in”

Ojimah’s ecosystem of solutions will empower communities and change the dynamics of travel in Africa- Mike Tavares

My Guest today is Mike Tavares, Founder of Ojimah, an African multi-channel online tourism platform. Mike is optimistic that Ojimah’s ecosystem of solutions is poised to empower African communities and change the dynamics of travel worldwide by facilitating a win-win situation for all industry players, travellers, and destinations.
A dynamic, results-oriented leader with a strong track record of performance in Tourism and Hospitality worldwide. Mike is well versed in dealing with multiple stakeholders at the highest level of both industry and government level.
After graduating with a master’s degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management at the University of Coimbra in Portugal, Mike started his career by working for the Portuguese National Tourism Board. Years later, he made his way up to hotel management in brands like Radisson and Intercontinental in the United Kingdom.
Mike then decided to embrace a new challenge and took a new role as Corporate Director of Hotel Operations, being responsible for the operations of the 18 hotels within the portfolio of HCI. With international exposure, Mike and his team created Ojimah, a multichannel platform aimed at developing the economy of Africa through sustainable tourism.
 

CEO of Zimbabwe Tourism Authority Winnie Muchanyuka talks State of Tourism in Zim

On the sidelines of the recently held Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit in Windhoek, Namibia I had an exclusive conversation with the newly appointed CEO of Zimbabwe Tourism Authority Winnie Muchanyuka. She talks about the state of tourism in Zimbabwe, the upcoming Sanganai world tourism expo and the industry’s preparedness of the industry as the sector bounces back.