The VA TourismPodcast

FITUR International Tourism Fair set for 42nd edition

My Guest Maria Valcarce Director of FITUR International Tourism Fair discusses next year’s edition of the travel show slated for 19th -23rd January 2022. She tells me the organizers have instituted measures to host the event in a safe and responsible way.  Over seventy countries have so far confirmed their participation.
Maria Valcarce holds a degree in Economics and Business Administration from the Complutense University of Madrid and a Special Degree in European Economics from the Free University of Brussels. A native Spanish speaker, she also speaks English and French.
She has developed her entire professional career at the Madrid Trade Fair Institution -IFEMA-, where, since 1997, she has been managing different trade fairs for various economic sectors such as automotive, renewable energies and ICT, among others; since January 2019 she is the director of the International Tourism Trade Fair, FITUR, in addition to the International Security Trade Fair, SICUR, the Doors and Automation Trade Fair, SMART DOORS and the International Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Show C&R.
 

Global Youth Tourism Summit aims at Youth Empowerment and engagement in the Tourism Sector

In this episode, the Director of Europe at the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Alessandra Priante has been sharing with me the objective of next year’s  Global Youth Tourism Summit and what it seeks to achieve. She talks about tourism restart in Europe and rounds it up with her own journey into tourism. 
She was the Chief of multilateral international relations (UNWTO, OECD and EU) and tourism policy for the Ministry of Agricultural, Food, Forestry and Tourism Policies of Italy. She has also actively participated in the research and analysis work behind the preparation of the National Strategic Plan for Tourism 2017-2022. 
She is a first-degree business graduate at the top Italian business university, Università Luigi Bocconi, and holds the Executive MBA at Luiss Guido Carli University and an International Master in Audio-visual Management. She successfully merged her strong experience in corporate finance and M&A operations, developed within international investment banks in her initial job posts, with her cultural expertise, joining since 2002 the Italian Ministry of Culture - Direction for Cinema, with the task of restructuring public finances for the culture sector. As a major output, she created the first public RSU in the audio-visual sector, focused on the design, set-up, and implementation of the most important sector reforms. 
As a firm believer in the importance of international networks and in the power of lobbying, she has created, has been part of and at times initiated various international think tanks and represented Italy in international and European Institutions devoted to culture. 
As an expert also of the Middle East area, she was appointed in the years 2010-2015 the Diplomatic Cultural Representative for the Gulf Area (UAE, Oman, Qatar, Bahrein, Kuwait), with the task of taking care of promoting Italian culture and education. 
In line with her academic preparation and research attitude, Alessandra has published numerous sector publications and books and teaches culture management and international audio-visual analysis at some of the major Universities in Italy for post-graduate students. 
Alessandra is a cinephile and a trained musician. She loves art and culture, her Country and her family. 
 

The Role of Women in Cabo Verde‘s Tourism Restart

With the restart of tourism in West Africa's archipelago Island of Cabo Verde in full force, Women Entrepreneurs working in Cabo Verde's Tourism Sector, Neusa Goncalves, and Divania Fortes want more inclusion of women in the tourism sector. 
Neusa Gonçalves is a 48-year-old entrepreneur whose career in tourism started in 1996 as one of the first tour guides on Sal island despite the young age rose through the ranks and in  2018 became the president of Aprotur (Tour Agencies, tourism transportation and tourism suppliers Association).
Since 2014 invested in tourism by starting her own business, the Kryol Operator, focusing on sales of tourism activities and restaurant management. Moreover, she has a degree in Tourism Management and holds some tourism-related formations such as professional driver, customer service on online communication channels
 

Up and Close with Zimbabwe music sensation Gemma Griffiths

My conversation today is with Zimbabwe music sensation Gemma Griffiths.
Gemma is Zimbabwean music sensation, she is known for her recent release 'Kwale' where she pays homage to Kenya. She released A GIRL FROM HARARE documentary. In this project Gemma narrates her story in a car where she traveled all over Africa exploring the African roots, music, culture, food and the creativity to start writing.
She takes us on the journey of where her life started in Zimbabwe and how her singing abilities started in pre-school with the help of growing up in a family that were also music lovers.
She tells us what music means to her, "Music is everything, it is praise, social commentary,and reflection that connects us." Her friends also give us a glimpse of who she is and how music is within her. We experience the beauty of her telling us about her life whilst tying it in with her music. This gives the audience insight into who Gemma is, and how this project
A Girl From Harare was written when she was in a car, and recorded in ten different African countries.This project allows the audience to appreciate her celebrating her African roots through her creative storytelling and music that is melodic. I would kindly like to request an interview for Gemma as she will unpack more about her documentary and how she got the inspiration to tell us about her roots.
 
 

Seychelles Fashion Week aims at making Fashion Tourism a major draw to the Island

My Conversation today is with the Founder of the Seychelles Fashion Week Terry Carolla. He tells me how the  Seychelles  Island wants to use fashion as one of its main draws as a destination. Going into its fourth year, the show has grown into becoming one of the must attend fashion shows in the Africa region.
The 4th edition is scheduled to take place on Saturday 27th November at the plush L’Escale Resort Marina & Spa in Mahe.
Follow the 4th Seychelles Fashion Week here

General Director of Basque Culinary Center Joxe Mari Aizega talks future of Gastronomy Tourism

On the sidelines of the recently held 6th unwto world  forum on gastronomy tourism held in Bruges, the General Director of Basque Culinary Center shares his thoughts on the future of African Gastronomy.
Joxe Mari Aizega is the General Director of Basque Culinary Center, a pioneering academic institution worldwide that contains a Faculty of Gastronomic Sciences attached to Mondragon University and a Centre for Research and Innovation. This center was the first Gastronomic Faculty in Spain with an Official Degree in Gastronomy and Culinary Arts. Pioneer Joxe Mari Aizega has been the director of this center since its inception, supported by public institutions, the most relevant chefs in the world, private companies and Mondragon Unibertsitatea.
Joxe Mari Aizega has a degree in Business Sciences and Law from the University of the Basque Country and a PhD on Law from the University of the Basque Country. He has worked as a professor at the Faculty of Law at the University of the Basque Country and the Faculty of Business Sciences at Mondragon Unibertsitatea. He has also served as Vice-Rector of Mondragon Unibertsitatea.

Building Resilience in the Meetings Industry: A Conversation with CEO of SAACI Glenton de Kock

The Africa Tourism Summit café is a dedicated conversation from the recently held summit at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg where panellists and participants have been sharing their experiences of the event. My guest today is the CEO of the Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI) Glenton de Kock. Glenton points to the proof of concepts as one of the key elements to restart the meetings industry.
Glenton had refined his public and private sector strategic management skills during his tenure as Managing Director of Tourism Buffalo City (covering East London, King Williams Town and Bhisho) where he oversaw the development and implementation of the destinations USAID Funded Tourism Master Plan, as Chief Executive Officer of Nelson Mandela Bay (Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage and Despatch) he refocused the organisations operating model, and as Chief Executive Officer of the Eastern Cape Tourism Board, which is now The Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency (ECPTA) he drove the implementation of the provinces international partnerships program.
As an Associate Director at KPMG he led the Hospitality, Leisure and Tourism Unit for Africa and South Africa before moving onto Grant Thornton in a similar position. His position as Project Manager at the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber ensured that Business embraces its civil society role by driving a holistic approach which enables business within the Metro to work towards long-term sustainability, though projects such as the Nooitgedaght Low-Level Water Scheme and the re-activation for the much needed Addo Road refurbishment.
Glenton’s business management experience cuts across various sectors, such as Tourism Hospitality, Petro-chemical, Mining and all spheres of government to name a few. He provides strategic input into his family footwear manufacturing business which employees 60 people and is run by his sisters.
As active citizen, Glenton acts as an independent advisor to the Nelson Mandela Bay Consultative Christian Churches, The Nelson Mandela Bay Civil Society Coalition, and the Northern Areas Education Forum and occasionally when time permits mentors businesses within the ICT and Services Sector.
Glenton is Chief Executive Officer for the Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI).
In his spare time, he is the President of the Nelson Mandela University Football Club and is a budding golfer.

Africa‘s Travel and Tourism Summit café : Young Entrepreneurs push for Intra Africa Travels

The Africa Tourism Summit café is a dedicated conversation from the recently held summit at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg where panellists and speakers have been sharing their experiences of the event. My Guests, Kennedy Agyepong, founder of Afrochella and Nomsa Dlamini have been sharing impressions from the summit.
Ken Agyapong Jr (Kenny) is a Ghanaian-American Entrepreneur and a Philanthropist. He attended public High School in the Bronx, New York, and graduated top of his class. He earned a bachelor's degree in Human Resource Management from Utica College of Syracuse in 2012. He further his education at Johnson Wells University, Providence Rhode Island in 2014 where he received his Master of Business Administration in Business Administration. Kenny began his career in events and entertainment Management by organizing major parties while studying at Utica College of Syracuse in his dorm room. 
Inspired by Madam CJ Walker, and a strong advocate for Schumpeter's school of thought. Gcina Nomsa Dlamini was named one of the Mail& Guardian Top 200 Young South Africans 2021, a winner in the category of Tourism & Hospitality. She is no stranger to the International community. While working in Washington DC, she received a scholarship from Howard University, Advance IT Women In STEM to further her studies in Econometrics & International Business. Her passion for travel started at the tender age of 14, on a visit to Dakar, Senegal. She has hosted multiple delegations and international celebrities both in South Africa and the US, who have a direct interest in investing in South Africa.
 
Her company Merchantry Worldwide, which means trade was founded on the basis of using travel as a catalyst for business and investment. She has contributed to the South African tourism industry, by exposing international visitors to the rich culture, history and diversity in the rural parts of the Country also known as 'hidden gems.